21 November 2017

Essential new conference for game managers

Game 2018

A NEW one day conference that will update and inform game management professionals on some pressing issues surrounding game shooting is being hosted by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT).

The Game Managers’ Event, known as Game 2018, will be held on Thursday 1st March 2018 at GWCT’s headquarters in Fordingbridge, Hampshire and you can book tickets here.

Invasive weeds and the contamination of cover crops, antibiotic use in game rearing, the latest trapping legislation, recent research on woodcock populations and migration are some of the hot topics for game managers to discuss at the conference.

Experts, including GWCT’s director of research Nick Sotherton, head of education Mike Swan, head of predation Jonathan Reynolds and head of wetland research Andrew Hoodless, will be addressing some of these subjects through a series of presentations.

Central England advisor at GWCT, Austin Weldon, whose talk is on Living with Protected Predators, said: “This is a golden opportunity to speak to a number of industry leaders and learn about the most important issues facing game shooting and its direction in the future.

“The game sector is constantly evolving and it is well-proven that good game management provides huge benefits for other wildlife.

“At the Trust’s Allerton Project farm in Loddington, Leicestershire, songbirds have increased by 93% thanks to the game and farm management package that is in place.

“However,  game managers need to keep up-to-date and constantly strive for higher standards across the whole sector and this is what Game 2018 sets out to achieve. Leading experts will deliver informative presentations on topical subjects with time for the audience to ask questions. We hope this event will become an annual fixture in the diary of shoot managers.”

Also talking on the day is GWCT’s head of advisory services, Roger Draycott, on the economics of game shoot management.

He added: “Game 2018 is for professional game managers who want to be up to speed with the latest research and advice on the key current issues affecting lowland game shoots. We have selected a range of GWCT and outside speakers who will tackle some of the challenges and opportunities facing game shoots today, including resolving conflicts between protected species and gamebirds, game shoot economics, the Code of Good Shooting Practice and much more.”

“The overriding aim of the conference is to promote best practice in game management through knowledge exchange.”

The Country Food Trust will be providing a game lunch on the day and presenting a talk highlighting its important work helping to combat poverty in the UK.

There are 90 places available on a first-come-first-served basis and the information packed day runs from 10am to 4.30pm.

Tickets, costing £30 which includes VAT, are on sale at www.gwct.org.uk/game2018.

For more information, contact Lynda Ferguson on 01425 651013 or lferguson@gwct.org.uk.

The event is kindly sponsored by Perdix and Elanco.


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