2025

The decline in breeding pairs of red grouse in Scotland was highlighted on both TV and radio by the BBC this week.

This year the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) took part in several Open Farm events across the country.

Yesterday’s Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) announcement took even the most optimistic of us by surprise - we really were expecting it would signal a farewell to the Cowslips. The Treasury have committed further funding to support nature on farms at a time when the mood music from government was that nature was less important and must come second to development. 

Defra informed stakeholders and the public in April that it would not be re-issuing GL45, the general licence to release gamebirds on or near (500m buffer) SPAs. This decision was made due to current levels of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and the inability to rule out the risk of it spreading to the bird features present on SPAs. Instead, those wanting to release gamebirds onto SPAs or their buffers must seek an individual licence from Natural England.

The GWCT has joined forces with twelve leading organisations to warn the government of the negative impact that potential cuts may have for nature and rural businesses.

The GWCT’s Part-Time Gamekeepers Course has been running in one form or another for over 40 years, 

The GWCT Research department recognises the potential for local populations of certain UK reptile species to be affected by released pheasants and partridges. While there is currently little solid evidence of an effect, it is very plausible that pheasants in particular might predate snakes or lizards at certain times of the year.

As spring arrives in the Scottish Lowlands and the mornings start to creep earlier and earlier, it means it’s time for the Lowlands team to complete the annual partridge spring pair surveys at Balgonie Estate.

Over 200 pupils visited Abercairney in the sun last week, primary pupils on the first day and secondary on the second. The day was run by the Moorland Groups under their new Educational Programme, Learn on the Land.