This year’s BASC Wildlife Fund stamp, titled Pintail over Wentloog, celebrates an important coastal habitat restoration project in South Wales.
The BASC Wildlife Fund (BWF) provides loans for land purchase and grants for conservation and habitat restoration projects linked to sustainable shooting. This year’s stamp is illustrated by renowned wildlife artist Paul Henery, who depicts pintail soaring over the coastline at Wentloog, the site of a project supported by the BASC Wildlife Fund.
Money raised from stamp purchases will go towards funding loans for land purchase projects, which ultimately promote species conservation and habitat improvement.
The Wentloog project
Last year a BWF loan of £35,000 enabled Wentloog Wildfowling and Conservation Association (WWCA) to purchase 932 acres of foreshore southwest of Newport. The site has benefitted from a Natural Resources Wales-led project, supported by WWCA, to restore saltmarsh habitat using traditional chestnut stakes to form protective polders. The technique benefits nesting birds and helps combat coastal erosion.
Other recent projects supported by the BWF include the SOTKA wetlands project. In 2023, €45,000 the Finnish Wildlife Agency secured a BASC Wildlife Fund grant to support the restoration and creation of three vital wetland sites across 47 hectares. The goal of the project is to bolster habitats for a range of wildlife, particularly wildfowl species that migrate to the UK each autumn.
About the artist
This year’s stamp artist, Paul Henery, is a highly regarded wildlife artist and keen naturalist. He is a long-time member of the Society of Wildlife Artists and the Artists for Nature Foundation. Paul brought the pintail and the unique Wentloog landscape to life in a beautifully composed miniature. He said: “It’s a delight to be commissioned to paint any wildlife project. I am not a shooter, but I love the idea of a stamp being used for conservation purposes. Especially in this day and age when everything is so under threat.”
The BWF stamp is a must purchase for any responsible shooter who wants to make a difference. By buying this year’s edition, you can demonstrate your commitment to sustainable shooting and support the enhancement of important habitats.
The 2025 BWF Stamp, Pintail over Wentloog, goes on sale from today on the BWF website here and will also be available on the BASC stand at The Game Fair.