December

Last month I had an inkling of what would be imposed on the Morlais Valley Wildfowlers by Natural Resources Wales, but now I know. The words “death by a thousand cuts” come to mind.

Take a closer look at our reserach on habitat for breeding woodcock, national survey findings for woodcock habitat and roding counts.

This event will highlight to landowners and land managers the financial and other benefits that trees and woodlands can provide; demonstrate some of the key considerations around creating, protecting and managing woodlands and highlight the range of support and funding available.

Moving into 2023, our ground-nesting birds need your help more than ever.

The GWCT Advisory team are running several essential courses for game and wildlife managers in the first part of 2023. Our courses are highly practical, with a focus on hands-on learning and real-world application. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from experts in the field and gain valuable skills and knowledge that they can apply in their work.

Defra has published a risk assessment focussing on the risks of transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) from released gamebirds to wild birds during the summer 2022 period when HPAI was at unprecedented levels in captive and wild birds.

During prolonged periods of freezing weather, waterfowl and waders are less able to access food resources and, as such, become more reliant on their fat reserves. 

We are pleased to report that via Holts November auction close to £15,000 was raised for the GWCT, thanks to the generosity of donors using the Holts Charity and Legacy Lots Programme.

New surveillance by the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use UK has found genes for resistance to anticoagulant rodenticides in 78% of rats and 95% of house mice.

The GWCT, as scientific advisor to Aim to Sustain, are undertaking a survey to understand how the providers and participants in game shooting view self-regulation and how it could work best across the sector.