2023

The abandonment of heather management in the Peak District National Park threatens rare birds and peatlands‚ as evidenced in a ground-breaking new report on the growing risk of catastrophic wildfire.

JM Osborne Rural and Sporting have been involved in shoots and shooting in one form or another since 1972 and have seen a massive change in that near 50 year period. 

It is easy to think that urban foxes are a new phenomenon, but records of foxes in towns go back to the 1890s in Switzerland, and the 1930s in London. There are lots of urban folk who love to have foxes about, but those who don’t often ask why they don’t go back to the countryside, “where they belong”. But what brought them into town in the first place?

In April 2023, the Lowland Gamebird research group finished a full year of walking 3km transect routes across a number of sites every three weeks, looking for fox scats and recording wildlife sightings.

If shoots follow the Code and the Principles then a net biodiversity gain will be the result – that is surely what the RSPB want to see. 

“Good commercial farming can work hand in hand with nature”, reiterated The Earl of Caithness, as he challenged the idea of designating wild belts, the subject of an amendment to the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill.

It’s very welcome to see Defra develop the concept of Nature Markets in its recently released report Nature Markets Framework. As the Agricultural Transition Period progresses and direct support payments drop away, it’s vital for farms to assess alternative income streams.

Jess Brooks looks deeper into the 2023 GWCT Big Farmland Bird Count data…

Please join us for some exciting events throughout May including an evening with the inimitable Sir Johnny Scott at Hopetoun House.

We are delighted to announce that the 2023 GWCT Scottish Auction is now live with over 80 varied and exciting lots available to bid on.