2018 has been a year of change and progress at the GWCT. We were delighted to welcome Sir Jim Paice as our new chairman this July. Sir Jim brings a wealth of experience to that role, not only from his time as a Defra minister, but also as a longstanding trustee, Chair of our Allerton Project (our research & demonstration farm in Leicestershire), and our Lowland Research Steering Committee. Jim’s knowledge and passion for the countryside will help us all to build on the wonderful legacy left by Ian Coghill.
We also continue to build our profile with press coverage increasing by a factor of four in the last two years. We are pleased to have a much stronger presence in Wales with our new Wales Director, Sue Evans, especially in light of the recent NRW verdict on released pheasant shooting. Our years of research into game management was invaluable to Sue. We have been working hard to give Defra and the devolved Governments our help with designing good post-Brexit Agri-environment policies, again making used of our long term research into farmland ecology, and wildlife-friendly farmland prescriptions. So far we are encouraged with the direction of travel.
None of this would be possible without you, our members. We really appreciate the support and feedback you and all our members have given us in 2018 and I hope it will continue for years to come.
Our top 3 stories of 2018
Our 2018 Bestseller
“I started reading The Knowledge at work at half eight in the morning and didn’t put it down until lunchtime. In some ways I got very little done that day but I learnt a huge amount. It is an indispensable read for anyone involved in shooting today.” Patrick Galbraith – Editor, Shooting Times Magazine