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The 'Game Conservancy Trust' is a British charitable organisation, principally associated with the shooting industry, which works to promote conservation of Game Birds and associated flora and fauna, and conduct research into game and countryside management. They advise farmers and landowners on improving wildlife habitat and lobby for agricultural and conservation policies based on science.
Many of their supporters take part in field sports, therby investing in managing wildlife habitat in the countryside.
Notable conservation projects of the Game Conservancy are those conserving Grey Partridges, Black Grouse and regarding control of Mink where they are predating Water Voles.

Contents

History

Conservation

Research

See also

External Links

History

A severe outbreak of the disease ''Strongylosis'' in Grey Partridges in 1931 led Major HG Eley (a shotgun cartridge manufacturer) to establish the ICI Game Research Station at Knebworth in Hertfordshire. The organisation monitored partridge numbers and investigated their biology.
After the war, Major Eley established a new base at Burgate Manor in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, establishing what was later known as the Eley Game Advisory Service. They leased a local 4,000 acre estate and for 14 years ran it as a demonstration and experimental game shoot.
Much of the association's early work was on organo chlorine pesticides and this work helped to bring in a ban on the use of dieldrin, aldrin and heptachlor seed dressings in 1962. In April 1980, the organisation was registered as a research and education charity under the name The Game Conservancy Trust.

Conservation

The Game Conservancy Trust, on some projects in association with the RSPB, The Mammal Society, The Environment Agency and Natural England, work for the following species and habitats:

★ Grey Partridge

★ Black Grouse

★ Brown Hare

★ Capercaillie

★ Chalk Trout Streams

★ Field margins

★ Heather moorland
The GCT are one of the pioneers in research into conservation headlands and beetle banks.

Research

The Conservancy have carried out many reports on countryside and game management, on topics such as numbers of gamebirds, disease in gamebirds, predator control and farming practices.

See also

★ Hunting in the United Kingdom

★ Game (food)

★ British Association for Shooting and Conservation

External Links

★ Game Conservancy Trust