The South Solway Wildfowlers Association was founded in 1952 as the Carlisle of the Solway Wildfolwers, which was formed for the benefit of local wildfolwers on both sides of the Solway Firth.

During the winter large flocks of wildfowl gather on the estuary for undisturbed feeding and roosting and wildfowlers rely on wildfowl for their sport, with the underlying approach to wildfolwing on the Solway being the sustainable use of this resource. Wildfolwers have an interest and commitment that extends beyond the quarry and the temporal nature of the sport allows for periods of time when wildfowl on the estuary can feed and roost undistubed. The principal wildfolwing actvities take place at dusk and dawn when birds flight between feeding and roosting sites, shooting during daylight and moonlight periods also occur, depending upon prevailing weather conditions.

Wildfowling is goverened by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981which sets out quarry species, their close seasons and methods by which they can be taken, now including the use of non-toxic shot. The Club also adheres to the BASC Wildfolwing Code of Conduct which is strictly enforced at all times. In addition the club imposes rules and regulations on its members to ensure the appropriate management of its shooting.

The Association controls a large area of the English side of the Solway Firth, some 8690 hectares in total. Almost 80% of this is designated a reseve area and and thus a no shooting area in which birds can rest and feed undisturbed. The areas under direct control are as follows - Old Kiln to Grune Point, Skinburness Marsh, Calvo Marsh, Border marsh, Raby Cote, Newton Marsh, Whitrigg Marsh,Moricambe Bay Flatts, Cardurnock Marsh and Flatts,Easton Marsh, Brugh Marsh and the tidal flatts on the south side of the Solway, to the centre of the River Esk, Westwards until the area joins Cardurnock Flatts.

To facilitate wardening of the areas only official access points are used by members. Memers take part in monthly bird counts and membership fees are used to pay leases, Basc membership, insurances and the duck stamp conservation scheme.

The flatts and Marshes are Sites of Special Scientific Interest and contain a diverse range of wildlife and plant life which is in our interests to maintain. without these areas members of the Association would not be able to take the small numbers and range of wildfowl species, which are legal to shoot, in a controlled manner under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. The inner Solway area is part of the Ramsar convention for Waterfowl habitat and requires conservation of its wetlands.

There are currently over 20,000 Pinkfooted Geese in the area and around 10,000 Barnacle Geese. A large number of ducks are also in the area including Mallard, Widgeon, Teal and an ever increasing number of Pintail.