Keith back on topic the ban on lead is voluntary as there is no compulsion to follow it, ie if I want to continue to shoot lead shot I can . The aim is to pressurise driven game shooters on commercial shoots killing up to 1000 birds per day to shoot steel or bismuth shot to then allow those birds to be exported to Europe . It will also allow time for cartridge manufacturers to develop non plastic biodegradable wads for steel shot and 2 1/2 inch steel cartridges for old British guns . What happens next who knows.
Pheasants are commonly no longer sold to game dealers ,game dealers now commonly charge to pick up the birds, two seasons ago the pick up cost was 30p per bird for the first 100 ,20 p a bird for any above that.