FINDINGS from the latest research carried out by scientists in the uplands will be discussed at the upcoming North of England Grouse Seminar.
From the role of grouse moor management in helping wader conservation to post-fire vegetation succession on blanket blog and reports from Langholm Moor, a variety of relevant and timely topics will feature at the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust’s (GWCT) 11th conference.
This year’s event will be held in The Morritt Hotel, Greta Bridge near Barnard Castle on March 8th, The Marquess of Downshire, who is a trustee of the Trust, will chair the meeting, which will commence with GWCT scientist Dave Newborn, who will talk about grouse diseases, including respiratory cryptosporidiosis, and will focus on distribution, prevalence, impacts on survival and productivity and reservoirs of infection.
Organiser Dr Dave Baines, Director of Upland Research, who will be explaining the importance of grouse moor management for declining curlew and other waders, says “it promises to be a great day”.
“The political pressures facing the future of driven grouse shooting have never been greater. This is your opportunity to find out the Trust’s latest research findings that will help steer solutions.”
Meanwhile, Dr Sian Whitehead, senior scientist at GWCT, will be explaining how results from the long-term rotational burning experiment at Moorhouse NNR may be widely applicable on North Pennine grouse moors.
Dr Philip Warren’s paper will focus on black grouse range expansion and Dr Sonja Ludwig will be providing the final results from 10 years of the Langholm Moor Demonstration Project, showing the changes in numbers of red grouse in relation to moorland restoration, including the diversionary feeding of hen harriers.
Furthermore, there will be a guest speaker from Natural England and there will be a discussion focusing on the pros and cons on heather burning by Professor Rob Marrs of the University of Liverpool.
Tickets for the conference are now on sale and cost £40.
To book, visit www.gwct.org.uk/grouseseminar
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