The Folly

Shoot · Leicestershire · 98 followers

Pheasant
Partridge
Duck
Pigeon

At The Folly guns can enjoy quality driven game shooting in a relaxed, traditional and professional atmosphere. With drives from strategically placed cover crops to traditional woodland, we aim to provide challenging sport for guns of all abilities. Situated near to the Leicestershire/Warwickshire border with major road links close by, Including the M1, M69, A5 and A47 making The Folly ideal for travelling guns. 

Formally a private shoot, now under new management, The Folly are delighted to be able to offer syndicate places as well as full team days catered to the individual requirements of your team. The shoot is currently ran on 1200 acres of prime arable and pasture land interspersed with pockets of woodland. Whether it is traditionally driven partridge over tall hedges or pheasant and partridge driven from cover crops strategically placed to make best use of the undulating farmland, the natural topography on offer at The Folly makes every drive unique.

A typical day at The Folly starts with guns gathering in the shoot room for tea, coffee and biscuits, providing the perfect opportunity for guns to meet each other and discuss the day ahead. Following a safety briefing and drawing of the pegs, guns are asked to ‘suit and boot’ ready to take to the field. Guns are transported between drives in our custom made guns trailer, ensuring that long distance walking is kept to a minimum. We usually shoot two drives then stop for traditional elevenses before continuing on with another drive or two before lunch. Lunch at The Folly is often homemade soup and sausages or something very similar. Once guns are refuelled and ready to go, we will set off for the final two drives of the day. As soon as the last shot has been fired and the last bird picked, we will head back to the shoot lodge where guns are then invited in for a 2 course homecooked meal to finish the day. Before departing the shoot, guns are always presented with a shoot card of their days sport and a brace of birds of their choice. 

At The Folly we take great pride in presenting teams of guns with a wide variety of birds during their day. Drives such as ‘Willies’ provide excellent traditional partridge. Birds are driven over a bank with the guns stood behind a tall hedge which encourages the partridge to flare as they pass over the guns. Be careful not to let your guard down though as ‘Willies’ also has a tendency to catch guns out by interspersing the partridges with strong flying pheasants. ‘Little Christmas Trees’ proves to be one of the guns favourites. Guns are stood in clear view of each other facing a meandering brookline and belt of mature trees. A mix of both pheasants and partridge are driven from a 12 acre field of christmas trees complimented by a block of cover crop. The birds burst over the tree line to awaiting guns, who really need to be on their toes for this one. ‘Oak End’ is renowned for testing guns. Birds are presented from a large block of cover over guns standing at the bottom of the bank. With ground rising up behind the guns, the birds are encouraged to lift and curl providing challenging sport for guns of all abilities. 

A huge effort goes into conservation at The Folly. We ensure that we use a combination of annual, bi-annual and perennial crops to create a diverse habitat that will not only benefit game birds but also increase the number of vulnerable farmland birds. By creating an annual cover crop plan we can ensure that second year kales are interspersed throughout the shoot to create valuable nesting cover for all ground nesting birds as well as our constantly increasing number of breeding pairs of wild grey partridge. 

At The Folly we are very committed to creating the right habitat for both game birds and other wildlife to thrive. As a shoot we realise the importance of this and therefore raise money for the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT). The GWCT is a British charitable organisation promoting game and wildlife management as an essential part of nature conservation. 

We cater for teams of 8 guns, roving syndicates, part groups and single guns. We also encourage both Ladies and Youngsters to take part in our days and well behaved dogs are always welcome.

Whatever your requirements please get in touch. We will do our upmost to accommodate your party. If you require an overnight stay there are a number of quality hotels close by or you require other shoot day services, from photography to a Fieldsports Concierge, then please discuss this with us.

Hospitality

Guns are met in the yard by either James or Edward and invited into the Guns room for refreshments. 11's are always served with homemade gins and more often that not, James' famous 'popcorn pheasant'. Lunches can vary, depending upon the weather, from filled torpedo rolls to soup and sausages, along with home made cakes and much more! Once the horn has gone at the end of the last drive and guns have been driven back to the yard, they are once again invited into the Guns room for a 2 course home made meal, including beer and wine. Upon departure all guns are presented with a brace of dressed or feathered game.

Topography

The Folly is lucky to be able to show birds over varying topography. We are able to offer traditional driven partridges from drives such as 'Willies' and 'The Fen', to woodland drives like 'Green Lane'. We can also show birds from strategically placed cover crops over rolling farm land on drives such as 'Oak End' and 'Posh and Becks' to valley drives like 'The Circuit'.

About the hosts

Driven days are all hosted by Edward Herrick, father of Shoot Owner and Gamekeeper, James Herrick. Edward is a dedicated and hard working mixed farmer, with a passion for producing quality livestock and arable crops. He is never found out in the field without his trusty Cocker Spaniel, Zoe, and his stick! Edward has been taking part in shooting sports since a young age and still enjoys the occasional day out with the gun.

Shoot Owner and Gamekeeper, James Herrick, is ambitious and passionate about what he is trying to achieve at The Folly. Ever present on a shoot day, James is usually found trying to orchestrate his beating lines to ensure quality birds are put over the guns. Away from The Folly, James is a competitive clay shot and keen musician.

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Mr. AJ Duncan

James Herrick is one to watch at the Folly Sporting. I am lucky enough to be a syndicate member on this unpretentious, hospitalable gem of a shoot in Leicestershire. Head keeper James continues to invest his time to bring to fruition his vision for The Folly. The shoot room is cosy with a wood burner lit first thing in the morning and the guns meet for coffee and tea before heading off. The drives contain good quality partridge with some lovely pheasant and the topography is used well with thoughtfully placed cover crops producing exciting flushes of partridge. The hospitality is genuine and welcoming from the moment you arrive to the moment a brace is placed in your hand and you are on your way. I have just returned from the first syndicate day of this season and had, yet again, a top quality day. I will continue to shoot this increasingly popular treasure, for as long as I am invited.

6 points

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