A simulated game day in Buckinghamshire has raised vitally-needed funds to help conserve British wildlife and the British countryside.
The event took place in the spectacular grounds of the Waddesdon Estate on Friday 6 May and was organised by the Buckinghamshire committee of the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT). Twenty teams of four guns each competed at five varied flushes around the backdrop of one of England's finest estates. The event was held by the kind permission of Lord and Lady Rothschild.
The stands included high pheasant, partridge, grouse to rabbits around the Waddesdon Estate. The day also included a champagne reception, with lunch at the Dairy at Waddesdon. Milly Soames, the High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, presented the winning team of Stewart Denton, Paul Poulter, Mickey Rouse, Rob Fenwick with their prizes – a GWCT engraved glass tumbler and a magnum of champagne for each team member.
The event concluded with a sporting auction, which saw a profit of £18,000 for the GWCT. The money raised will go towards funding the GWCT's pioneering scientific research, which has developed many practical solutions to the conservation challenges faced by the UK's wildlife over the past seventy years.
Ben Glazier, chairman of the GWCT’s Buckinghamshire committee said, "We couldn't have hoped for a better venue, or a more challenging shoot. Everyone who took part had an excellent experience and were proud to be helping such a worthy cause."
The GWCT would like to thank headline sponsors The Buying Solution and Knight Frank Residential Consultancy, along with The Rothschild Foundation, Rolls Royce, Really Wild Clothing, and Le Chameau, who also provided sponsorship, Maison Marques et Domaines Ltd - suppliers of wine for the day, the hosts, the Waddesdon Estate Manager Edward Parsons, and everyone else who contributed to making the event such a great success.
The GWCT aim to stage many similar - and hopefully even more successful - events in the future. To learn more about forthcoming GWCT Buckinghamshire events, please contact Gay Wilmot-Smith on 07501 064828 or by email at gwilmotsmith@gwct.org.uk, or visit http://www.gwct.org.uk/events/calendar/
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Photocaption: The winning team at the Waddesdon simulated game day on Friday 6 May show off their prizes (l to r) Rob Fenwick, Stewart Denton, Paul Poulter, Mickey Rouse. Photocredit: Richard Washbrooke Photography / www.richardwashbrooke.photoshelter.com
Notes to editors
The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust – providing research-led conservation for a thriving countryside. The GWCT is an independent wildlife conservation charity which has carried out scientific research into Britain’s game and wildlife since the 1930s. We advise farmers and landowners on improving wildlife habitats. We employ 22 post-doctoral scientists and 50 other research staff with expertise in areas such as birds, insects, mammals, farming, fish 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.
For information, contact:
Eleanor Williams
Telephone: 07592 025476
Email: press@gwct.org.uk