The GWCT Scottish Auction raised more than £110,000 for vital research and conservation work aimed at preserving and enhancing the rural way of life in Scotland.
Held at Edinburgh's prestigious Prestonfield House on 1st May, the event is now in its 37th year and support and enthusiasm for it remains high.
A firm favourite in the city’s social diary, the GWCT Scottish Auction gives shooting, game management and conservation enthusiasts a chance to catch up with friends and make new friends, while raising awareness and funds to support the GWCT's ongoing research.
With generous help from sponsors Saffery, Pentland Land Rover and Invenergy, as well as McInroy & Wood and Bonhams, guests feasted on wonderful roe deer loin generously supplied by Highland Game, and washed down with fabulous wines from Inverarity Morton.
The Live Auction featured golf at Muirfield, shooting in the Lammermuirs and Glenrinnes in Speyside, as well as this year’s catalogue cover painting of a black grouse by Clare Brownlow. The Silent Auction featured an extensive range of lots, with everything from fishing, holiday houses, stalking, experiences, wines and more. There was also a raffle and a lively game of heads or tails enjoyed by all!
Nick Hesford, Director of GWCT Scotland, said: “I must extend a huge thank you to all the donors who supplied auction lots so generously, and to those who spent so enthusiastically.”
Commenting on how important the event was to the continued work of the trust, he added: “Over the best part of the last century the GWCT has carried out a lot of invaluable research that clearly demonstrates the benefits of game bird releasing and game bird management to biodiversity, but a lot of this has been focused on East Anglia and the south of England.
“We know that through the Wildlife Management of Muirburn Act there is a very real prospect that the releasing of gamebirds will become licenced.
“To be ready to inform policy makers when the time comes to introduce licencing, we need more research that reflects our unique Scottish landscapes and our unique ecosystems. In other words we need Scottish data or we'll be on the back foot.
“GWCT Scotland is already in the process of designing and implementing some of the research that's most desperately needed to answer these questions.
“That is why events like this matter so much. The funds raised at the Scottish Auction will allow us to continue this vital work.”
The Scottish Auction will be back in 2026 when it will be held on Thursday 7th May. Updates will be posted on the website.