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Liz Truss MP, Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, paid tribute to the scientific research of the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust and its contribution to developing practical solutions to reversing the decline of our native wildlife.

Nigel Oakey, farmer from Grange Farm, Godington, Nr Bicester, Oxfordshire has won the prestigious Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) Grey Partridge Cotswolds Trophy for his efforts in fighting the decline of this iconic game bird - the Grey partridge.

A new study by the GWCT, with support from Natural England, has identified that the use of pesticides on cereal fields could be having a greater impact than previously thought and that this impact may increase in the face of climate change. The study, using over 40 years of data collected on farmland on the Sussex Downs, considers the effect on arable insects and spiders of factors including changes in extreme weather events and pesticide use.

The once-common wild grey partridge has been in steep decline over the past four decades. Although it is one of the UK’s most iconic farmland bird species, grey partridge numbers have plummeted by more than 80% and, tragically, because of habitat loss and a reduction in essential chick food insects, they have become locally extinct in many areas of the country.

The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust is appealing to school pupils across the Perth and Kinross region to get busy with their paintbrushes and pencils – or indeed any other medium – and enter the annual GWCT schools art competition.

A new study published in Biological Conservation identifies that we need to rethink the type of special flowering crops that we grow to help our ailing bee populations.

A unique partnership between an environmental research charity, an industry forum and a multi-national corporation has solved a major waste recycling problem for European agriculture. In recognition of this simple but extremely effective innovation the group was presented with a prestigious Environmental Leadership Award from the Chemical Industries Association last week.

The way we manage the land is changing. A new report highlights a way which is better for wildlife, crop production, soil and water, as well as people.

The United Nations has declared 2015 as the International Year of Soils with the aim of helping to raise awareness of why soils are important for food security and the environment. By its very nature without this essential element we would not be able to grow food, provide wildlife habitats, prevent flooding or have clean water.

As well as being Ascot week this is also the peak hatching time for young partridge chicks. The question is will there be enough insects on farmland across the country this week to help these declining young birds survive?