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18/10/2005
A King Amongst Dukes For Saving Grey Partridges
Over 60 farmers and landowners from across Northumberland recently attended the launch of the Northumberland Grey Partridge Recovery Group, which is being chaired by The Duke of Northumberland.
This new initiative has been set up by The Game Conservancy Trust in a bid to try and boost grey partridge numbers in Northumberland.
The grey partridge is one of our truly indigenous species, having been recorded as far back as the Iron Age. But in the past 30 years its population has plummeted from over a million pairs in Edwardian times to just 76,000 pairs now. The Game Conservancy Trust has been researching this decline and has established that many modern farming practices are unsuited to partridge survival.
In an effort to increase partridge numbers, the Government has appointed the Game Conservancy Trust as lead partner for the Grey Partridge Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) which will help to ensure that the partridge population stabilises by 2005 and doubles by 2010.
A plea last year to save the grey partridge culminated in a fantastic national response. But Dr Nick Sotherton, Director of Research with the Trust says, "More effort is still needed. Breeding success last year was only reasonable and many more farmers and landowners are needed in their active management to prevent a further decline. We are at a stage now where some areas of the country no longer hold grey partridges."
Nick Sotherton explains the decline, "A variety of causes have gradually eroded the partridge population, including farming techniques, lack of chick food insects, predation and weather. Setting up regional partridge groups is an ideal way to help boost the grey partridge population at a local level."
The Duke of Northumberland said, "We are hoping that many of the people attending the launch today will join the Northumberland Grey Partridge Group. The aim of the group is to compare notes, exchange ideas and give regular updates on what people need to do to manage their land for grey partridge."
With the Government's new Entry Level Scheme now in place, the farming community can benefit hugely from helping BAP species like the grey partridge, and The Game Conservancy Trust can offer advice to farmers on habitat improvement and management techniques that fit in with the scheme. The Trust has also recently published five new free fact sheets aimed at those interested in managing their land for partridges.
In addition to launching the new group, the Trust is delighted to announce the launch of The Northumberland Grey Partridge Trophy, which is being sponsored by The Glenlivet, part of the Pernod Ricard Group. The partridge trophy will be presented each year to the farm or estate that has contributed most to the conservation of grey partridges in the Northumberland region. The presentation of the trophy to the first winner will be made in June 2006, following the spring count of partridges.
For information on the Northumberland Grey Partridge Group, or for copies of the new fact sheets, please contact The Game Conservancy Trust, Burgate Manor, Fordingbridge. Telephone: 01425 652381 or Mike McKendry, the Trust's North of England Advisor, telephone: 07793 593783.
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This new initiative has been set up by The Game Conservancy Trust in a bid to try and boost grey partridge numbers in Northumberland.
The grey partridge is one of our truly indigenous species, having been recorded as far back as the Iron Age. But in the past 30 years its population has plummeted from over a million pairs in Edwardian times to just 76,000 pairs now. The Game Conservancy Trust has been researching this decline and has established that many modern farming practices are unsuited to partridge survival.
In an effort to increase partridge numbers, the Government has appointed the Game Conservancy Trust as lead partner for the Grey Partridge Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) which will help to ensure that the partridge population stabilises by 2005 and doubles by 2010.
A plea last year to save the grey partridge culminated in a fantastic national response. But Dr Nick Sotherton, Director of Research with the Trust says, "More effort is still needed. Breeding success last year was only reasonable and many more farmers and landowners are needed in their active management to prevent a further decline. We are at a stage now where some areas of the country no longer hold grey partridges."
Nick Sotherton explains the decline, "A variety of causes have gradually eroded the partridge population, including farming techniques, lack of chick food insects, predation and weather. Setting up regional partridge groups is an ideal way to help boost the grey partridge population at a local level."
The Duke of Northumberland said, "We are hoping that many of the people attending the launch today will join the Northumberland Grey Partridge Group. The aim of the group is to compare notes, exchange ideas and give regular updates on what people need to do to manage their land for grey partridge."
With the Government's new Entry Level Scheme now in place, the farming community can benefit hugely from helping BAP species like the grey partridge, and The Game Conservancy Trust can offer advice to farmers on habitat improvement and management techniques that fit in with the scheme. The Trust has also recently published five new free fact sheets aimed at those interested in managing their land for partridges.
In addition to launching the new group, the Trust is delighted to announce the launch of The Northumberland Grey Partridge Trophy, which is being sponsored by The Glenlivet, part of the Pernod Ricard Group. The partridge trophy will be presented each year to the farm or estate that has contributed most to the conservation of grey partridges in the Northumberland region. The presentation of the trophy to the first winner will be made in June 2006, following the spring count of partridges.
For information on the Northumberland Grey Partridge Group, or for copies of the new fact sheets, please contact The Game Conservancy Trust, Burgate Manor, Fordingbridge. Telephone: 01425 652381 or Mike McKendry, the Trust's North of England Advisor, telephone: 07793 593783.
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