GWCT News Blog

A pioneering trial set up to help rebuild the population of the endangered Hen Harrier in England has reared and released 13 chicks this year.

GWCT chief executive Teresa Dent CBE wrote a letter to Greenpeace’s interim UK Executive Director offering to meet to present scientific evidence in response a to petition calling for a total ban on controlled burning.

Plug “2022 year of..” into your search engine, and you will likely come up with tiger, Chinese zodiac, ox and dog, but I wonder how many readers realise that 2022 is also the year of the gamekeeper? 

The few who perpetrate wildlife crime overshadow the many grouse moor managers who work tirelessly to create habitat where birds of prey can thrive. 

For most lowland shoots, the cost of pheasant and partridge poults is probably the biggest single outlay in the annual budget, so you want to spend your money wisely. Shopping around is clearly sensible but beware of going on price alone.

Megan Rowland, a deer manager from the Highlands, was chosen as the overall winner of the INEOS Grenadier Countryside Champion Award 2022, coordinated by GunsOnPegs. 

With the shooting season now over, the first signs of breeding are already upon us. So, those who hope for a significant contribution from wild bred game should be making a start on the spring predation control programme.

Earlier today (3 February), in a House of Lords debate on bird control licences, the discussion turned quickly to game management.

It is concerning to see the rise in wheat prices hitting shoots in the pocket, but it is important that we don’t let it impact farmland birds.