What the research says about shooting and the British countryside

We set out the figures, where they come from and what they do not cover, so you can check them yourself.

Explore the facts
Test a claim

An evidence platform on shooting, conservation and the British countryside. Sources are cited throughout.

By the numbers

Shooting in figures

Figures from published research. Click a card to see the source, the year and what the figure measures.

146,700

Full-time equivalent jobs linked to shooting across the UK, including unpaid work (2022)

7.6M

Hectares of habitat and wildlife management carried out as a result of shooting (2022)

£74.3M

Estimated public health savings to NHS and council budgets

£500M

Estimated value of conservation work by shoot providers and volunteers (2022)

Common claims

What the evidence says

For each claim we set out what the research says, where it comes from and where it falls short.

THE CLAIM

“Shooting is just a hobby for the wealth elite.”

THE EVIDENCE

An estimated 553,000 people took part in shooting in the UK in 2022. Two thirds of them took part in clay target shooting.

WORTH KNOWING

The report gives no figures on participants’ income, so it cannot show how wealthy shooters are.

THE CLAIM

“Shooting destroys the countryside.”

THE EVIDENCE

An estimated 553,000 people took part in shooting in the UK in 2022. Two thirds of them took part in clay target shooting.

WORTH KNOWING

The estimate comes from a survey commissioned by shooting organisations. It measures land where work is done, not the condition of that land.

THE CLAIM

“It’s a net drain on public services.”

THE EVIDENCE

A report published by BASC estimates public health savings of £64.3 million to NHS and council budgets.

WORTH KNOWING

£26.7 million of that comes from physical and mental health benefits to people who shoot. The other £37.6 million comes from air pollution removed by woodland managed for shooting.

HUMAN STORIES

The people behind the data

The people who live and work with shooting, in their own words.

A gamekeeper's year

text description in here

Working the land

text description in here

Communities connected

text description in here

Wildlife thriving

text description in here

Tools and resources

Check it for yourself

Tools for checking claims and finding sources.

Test a claim

Ask the evidence

Your AI research assistant for shooting, conservation and the countryside.

Ask anything

Type a question about shooting, conservation or the countryside.

Evidence-based

Get a plain-English answer drawn only from sourced evidence, with the source named.

Both sides

On contested topics it gives both sides of the argument.

Demonstration tool. Answers come from a sample evidence set and are for testing only.

Safe Backstop Portal

Report or fact-check a claim in confidence.

Discourse Simulator

Practise civil, evidence-based conversations.

Biodiversity Map

Wildlife and habitat records on a map.

Cost of Alternatives

What it would cost to do the same land and wildlife management without shooting.

Our principles

How we hold the debate

TruthHub exists to raise the standard of public debate on shooting and the countryside. We criticise arguments and claims, not people. We apply these to everything we publish.

01  Respect people, challenge ideas
We criticise arguments and claims, not personal characteristics.

02  Use evidence honestly
We cite sources accurately and acknowledge uncertainty.

03  Avoid stereotypes
We do not caricature communities or opponents.

04  Welcome legitimate scrutiny
Reasonable criticism improves standards.

 

05  Correct errors promptly
If we get something wrong, we amend it.

06  No abuse or harassment
We reject intimidation, pile-ons, threats and mockery.

07  Seek common ground
Where agreement exists, we recognise it.

08  Keep perspective
Complex countryside issues rarely have simple answers.

Support an honest debate
about the countryside

Read the evidence, ask a question, or support the site.

Explore the facts
Scroll to Top