Rotherfield Park flies to the rescue of wild grey partridges

The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust has just launched a new recovery and demonstration project for wild grey partridges in Hampshire in an effort to help reverse the massive 86 per cent decline of one of our most threatened farmland birds. 

According to the Trust this inspiring new project could help to further boost the recovery of this iconic species as it will demonstrate to farmers and landowners the range of practical measures that are needed to help this once familiar farmland bird.

This new project follows completion of the Trust’s landmark five-year Grey Partridge Recovery Project at Royston in Hertfordshire.  By the end of the project grey partridge numbers had reached their target of achieving 18.4 pairs per sq kilometre.  This equates to a 640 per cent rise since intensive management started in 2002.

Having successfully restored grey partridges on arable land in Hertfordshire, the Trust now aims to drive partridge recovery in other areas of the country and is launching this new initiative at Rotherfield Park in Hampshire this spring with the generous support of Sir James Scott.

Baseline monitoring of farmland birds, wild game and other farm wildlife has already started and the locally extinct wild grey partridge population will be re-established using the Trust’s new re-introduction techniques.  Over the next five years the Trust aims to show the levels of productivity that can be achieved across a wide range of farm wildlife including wild pheasants and wild grey partridges.

Ian Lindsay, Director of Research and Education with the Trust said, “This new project at Rotherfield Park will be led by Malcolm Brockless and the estates Peter Rose, who will combine their keepering skills across two beats.  Their efforts will be supported by a suite of improved agri-environment habitats.”

Ian explains the relevance of this project to other farmers and land managers who wish to boost their own wild game and farmland bird populations.  He said, “Because Rotherfield Park has heavier land and substantial woodland it provides an important new opportunity to demonstrate the techniques that are necessary to restore a wide range of species on lowland farmland that is more typical to many farmers and land managers across the UK.  We thus believe the final outcome of this project will be extremely relevant to many of those wishing to support their wild bird populations across the country and we look forward to presenting the results as it progresses.”

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Photocaption:
The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust has launched a new demonstration project for wild grey partridges at Rotherfield Park in Hampshire.

Notes to editors

The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust is an independent wildlife conservation charity which carries out scientific research into Britain’s game and wildlife. We advise farmers and landowners on improving wildlife habitats and we lobby for agricultural and conservation policies based on science. We employ 14 post-doctoral scientists and 50 other research staff with expertise in areas such as birds, insects, mammals, farming and statistics.  We undertake our own research as well as projects funded by contract and grant-aid from Government and private bodies.   The Trust is also responsible for a number of Government Biodiversity Action Plan species and is lead partner for grey partridge and joint lead partner for brown hare and black grouse.

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