Natural Shoots x Wildlife Estates Scotland: A Collaboration Driving Practical Change

Natural Shoots is proud to be collaborating with Wildlife Estates Scotland (WES) on a forward-thinking initiative that brings together sustainable land management, behaviour change, and habitat recovery – turning everyday actions within the sporting landscape into meaningful environmental outcomes.

This partnership reflects a shared belief: that biodiversity gains are strongest when they are embedded into real-world practice, supported by land managers, estates, and the people who use and care for the countryside.

Wildlife Estates Scotland: Recognising Excellence in Land Stewardship

Wildlife Estates Scotland (WES) is an accreditation scheme that recognises landholdings demonstrating best practice in sustainable land management, biodiversity conservation, and benefits to rural communities. Often described as Scotland’s equivalent of the European Wildlife Estates label, WES promotes a holistic approach to land use across farming, forestry, tourism, sporting management and conservation.

Estates applying for accreditation undergo a rigorous, independent assessment that evaluates how land is managed for both wildlife and people. This includes habitat monitoring, integration of multiple land uses, long-term planning, and active engagement with local stakeholders. Once awarded, certification lasts for five years, reflecting a long-term commitment to continuous improvement.

At its core, Wildlife Estates Scotland showcases how estates can actively manage for nature while supporting vibrant rural livelihoods – demonstrating that a thriving, biodiverse countryside is built on recognised excellence and practical action.

Intervention at the Point of Use: Changing Behaviour Where It Matters

While innovation within manufacturing will take time to fully address the environmental impact of shotgun cartridges, progress on upcycling initiatives at the manufacturer level has been slow. The complexity of cartridge design, long-established production systems, and the lack of coordinated take-back or reuse schemes mean that large-scale change at source is not yet forthcoming.

In the meantime, there are immediate, practical steps that can be taken to change behaviour around disposal – and this is where Natural Shoots has focused its efforts.

One simple but effective intervention pioneered by Natural Shoots is the separation of paper shotgun cases from plastic cases at the point of use. This small change significantly improves the potential for reuse and upcycling, preventing valuable materials from entering mixed waste streams and landfill.

As part of a wider programme of activity designed to encourage behaviour change, Natural Shoots has worked in collaboration with the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation, supporting its members to adopt this approach across estates and shoots.

Peg Number Presentation Box

A Shared Activity Plan for 2026

We are therefore delighted to be working with Wildlife Estates Scotland on a specific collaborative activity plan for 2025- 2026.

During the 2025-2026 shooting season, 20 estates operating under the WES umbrella will actively collect paper shotgun cases. These will then be gathered by Natural Shoots at the Scottish Game Fair at Scone Palace in July 2026, where they will begin their journey into a new, purposeful life through upcycling.

This initiative connects land management, sporting practice, and sustainability messaging in a clear and visible way – demonstrating leadership from accredited estates and offering a model that can be replicated more widely.

From Shotgun Case to Seed Case: A Meaningful Second Life

In the following shooting season, Wildlife Estates Scotland estates will use a specially designed set of upcycled and individually numbered paper shotgun cases, created by Natural Shoots, for guests to draw their pegs.

Each case will contain our Shire Horse Harvest wildflower seed mix, transforming a once single-use item into a stylish, meaningful gift for guests to take away and plant at a location of their choice.

In doing so, WES’s sustainability message travels far beyond the estate boundary. Each planted seed mix supports the recovery of habitats, the expansion of biodiversity, and a deeper connection between people and the landscapes they enjoy – all carried within a case upcycled from the estates themselves.

Collaboration at the Forefront of Change

Strategic collaborations such as this exemplify how Natural Shoots is at the forefront of driving change in habitat recovery and biodiversity expansion, both within and beyond the sporting industry.

By working alongside Wildlife Estates Scotland and its accredited estates, we are helping to embed sustainability into everyday practice – proving that thoughtful design, traditional land stewardship, and modern ecological thinking can come together to deliver lasting impact.

This is not just about recycling materials; it’s about reimagining systems, influencing behaviour, and creating positive environmental stories that begin in the field and end in flourishing habitats.