Press Releases - 2026

The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust has secured government backing for all seven projects it submitted to Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme, reinforcing the Trust’s position at the forefront of science-led practical conservation.

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.

PepsiCo FAB has been expanding its key Scottish agricultural project, which encourages farms to put measures in place to improve semi-natural habitats to benefit biodiversity and increase cost-effective, nature-friendly productivity. This model is now being rolled out to up to 50 other farms across Scotland, with 18 already signed up to the PepsiCo FAB - Scaling Up project.

A new scientific review commissioned by Natural England and undertaken by the GWCT suggests pheasant releasing is having no significant impact on insect populations in the wider countryside.

The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) and country clothing brand Schöffel Country are thrilled to announce the 28 finalists for the 2026 Schöffel Countryside Awards. 

Ellie will be joining the Trust at the beginning of August, and will take on the strategic leadership of our charitable income streams from Jeremy Payne, who is retiring this summer as Director of Fundraising after nearly 10 years.

The results of the 2026 Big Farmland Bird Count (BFBC) show that farms providing supplementary feeding are supporting higher numbers of many farmland bird species whose breeding populations are declining nationally. 

Our tagged snipe have begun their migrations... where will they end up staying for the breeding season?

The Easter Special episode of BBC’s Countryfile was a true highlight of the holidays, featuring the conservation work behind thriving populations of lapwing and hares – both signs of spring across our countryside.

The launch of a groundbreaking farmer-led, catchment-scale conservation plan has been made possible by the formation of the Environmental Farmers Group. The EFG’s first Environmental Transition Plan measures the government’s goals of reversing biodiversity decline, improving water quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions against the stated commitment of EFG members in the Hampshire Avon catchment and demonstrates the farmers’ potential to meet and beat them.