Research and wildlife conservation projects in focus at Ragley Hall
The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) is once again promising another informative and inspiring presence at the Game Fair at Ragley Hall on 24-26 July.
This year, sustainable gamebird releasing will feature prominently with the unveiling of a new publication. Game For Nature – Why released gamebird management is a lifeline for farmland biodiversity - will be launched at the stand at 9am on Friday 24 July by our CEO Nick von Westenholz as he opens the stand and welcomes supporters to the event during our media breakfast.
Game for Nature provides a comprehensive overview of GWCT research, presenting the scientific evidence showing how sustainable, best-practice game management can benefit biodiversity and help sustain a living, thriving countryside. At a time when country pursuits and gamebird releasing face increasing scrutiny and pressure for change, the publication sets out the facts clearly and accessibly.
Particular focus will also be given to two flagship research projects: the range expansion of black grouse in north-east England, and the maternal grouse project, which seeks to understand the factors that have contributed to several poor breeding seasons for red grouse across the uplands of England and Scotland.
Our farmed landscape, which accounts for 72% of land in the UK, and its symbiotic relationship with sustainable game management will also be a central theme throughout the stand. It is a relationship intrinsically linked to everything the GWCT stands for.
This year’s summer appeal reflects that same theme. Solitary bees play a crucial role in supporting crops and wildflowers, yet populations have declined significantly, and flowers alone are not enough to restore them. GWCT scientists are now testing a simple but potentially transformative solution: creating small areas of bare ground, known as “scraped plots”, alongside wildflower habitats on farmland. Early trials have shown that bees readily use these areas for nesting, but further work is now needed to build robust scientific evidence at scale.
Scientists and advisors from the Trust will also be on hand throughout the Game Fair to discuss their work and offer advice on all aspects of land and game management. Come along to find out how they could help you manage your land, farm, or shoot.
GWCT experts will also feature in the line-up of speakers in the Carter Jonas Theatre, talking about a range of key projects and topics, including the snipe migration study, alongside the red and black grouse projects.
We will have a range of prominent Trust publications available, and our GWCT shop will selling branded merchandise including caps, badges, water bottles, gifts, and Christmas cards.
Members benefits
All GWCT members are also welcome to enjoy some light refreshments in our members’ garden throughout the weekend, so why not come and say hello and grab a coffee with us? You can find us on stand number E926.
Get 20% off selected Game Fair tickets by entering the code GWCT20 when you book your tickets here.
Join us at The Game Fair 2026! And if you are not yet a member, signing up at the event will enter you into a prize draw to win a collector’s edition five-litre bottle of Taylor's 20-Year-Old Golden Age Tawny Port valued at £1,500 kindly donated by our partner Taylor’s Port!