Long established clay shoot to continue

A statement from the club said: “The well-known Countryman Gun Club believed that 2015 would be their last year of shooting on Knepp Estate and that they were facing closure after 46 years if new grounds were not found. In a remarkable development the club is now set to continue thanks to a new suggestion proposed by Sir Charles Burrell and the Knepp Estate, Shipley, Horsham, West Sussex.

“The club were saddened when informed last October that they would need to seek new grounds on which to shoot; however a new proposal has been agreed by all which sees the gun club shooting throughout the year with the exception of July and August. This timetable ensures that disturbance of the vital Wilding projects taking place on Knepp Estate will be avoided, and the club can continue to maintain their scoring records which date back to 1971.

“The 100 member strong gun club who have raised thousands of pounds in charitable donations over the years are very pleased with the new way forward suggested by Knepp Estate Owner Sir Charles Burrell.

Club chairman David Meadows said: “This is the best solution all round, we will avoid the disturbance of important projects in the wilding area of the estate with no shooting in July and August but we will have a usual programme at other times.

“We will also be able to continue our Open Shoots for fundraising and ‘Have a Go’ morning for ‘beginners’. The Knepp Estate Safari trips through the highly regarded wilding area and the visitors staying in the glamping site nearby will not need to worry about us and we respect that.

“We have also been very fortunate that we may hold four morning Sporting Shoots in the summer, to the west of Knepp, at Saucelands Farm,” added David.

Membership of the Countryman Gun Club is inclusive encompassing ladies, gentlemen and younger members from hamlets and villages across West Sussex. The club offers very low cost shooting thanks to a dedicated group of shooters who give their time and expertise freely in keeping with the club’s non-profit making policy. If you are interested in finding out more about the Countryman Gun Club then contact chairman David Meadows on 01403 741379 or [email protected]

The Countryman Gun Club was formed in 1970 and currently counts 100 members.

Shooting has taken place within the grounds of Knepp Castle Estate since the club commenced.

The club has historically supported local charities with fundraising shoots during each season.

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