GWCT April newsletter out tomorrow

Our April newsletter will be arriving in the inboxes of our members and subscribers tomorrow. It features the latest news and event details from the GWCT and you can get it for free here.

5 most popular GWCT blog posts this week

Here are the 5 most read blog posts we've published over the last week:

1. Weather can't put a dampener on Countryfile filming

2. Meet our new woodcock and track them online

3. Latest Big Farmland Bird Count News

4. 2014 Purdey Awards - deadline for entries soon

5. GWCT science praised in brown hare House of Commons motion

Subscribe to email blog updates on the right of this page or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to get the latest news as it breaks.

Weather can't put a dampener on Countryfile filming

The atrocious weather conditions couldn't get in the way of the BBC's filming of Countryfile at our Allerton Project farm on Thursday 28th March.

The programme's Tom Heap, pictured below talking to our Director of Policy Dr. Alastair Leake, endured heavy rain, sleet and snow as our work on increasing farmland bird numbers was discussed.

The episode will be broadcast on BBC1 at 7pm on Sunday 13th April.

Allerton Project shortlisted for National Recycling Awards 2014

We're very proud to announce that our Allerton Project farm has been nominated in this year's National Recycling Awards.

In fact we haven't just been nominated, we've been voted through as a finalist by a panel of 23 expert judges from the world of recycling.

A number of the other nominees are major organisations including M&S, John Lewis, B&Q, Procter & Gamble, Network Rail, DHL, npower and the Environment Agency.

We've been shortlisted in the Resource Management Business of the Year (Small) category for our farm plastics recycling operation.

The winners will be announced on 3rd July. In the meantime you can find out more about our recycling operation here.

2014 Purdey Awards - deadline for entries soon

The deadline for those shoots wishing to enter this year’s Purdey awards for game and conservation is fast approaching. Applications need to be submitted by 9th May and you can submit yours here.

Each year the Purdey Awards recognise the efforts of shoots of all sizes that have achieved outstanding results in improving game bird habitats and the biodiversity of their land. This year a £12,500 prize fund will be shared between Gold, Silver, Bronze and Special Award winners.

Our members have a strong track record of success and last year all three winners of the Purdey Awards were GWCT members, each having received help from our Advisory Service.

Count Konrad Goess-Saurau won the Gold Award in recognition of his conservation work at Temple Shoot, transforming a 2,000-acre prairie style arable farm into a haven for birds and wildlife. The Silver Award went to Nicholas Watts, of Vine House Farm, where he was cited for his outstanding wild game and habitat management. Lady Sondes, owner of Lees Court Shoot, was given the Bronze Award, for her work to nurture and improve her land for game and wildlife, in memory of her late husband.

To enter for this year’s awards go to www.purdey.com/shooting-life/purdey-awards

BBC Countryfile filming with us tomorrow

The BBC will be filming a feature for a forthcoming episode of Countryfile at our Allerton Project in Loddington on Thursday 27th March.

The feature will centre around the work we have been doing to help revive farmland bird numbers.

The episode will be broadcast at 7pm on Sunday 13th April, with Countryfile typically attracting around 10 million viewers.

Be sure to check back here on Friday to see exclusive photos from the filming, or subscribe to blog updates by entering your email address on the right of this page.

GWCT science praised in brown hare House of Commons motion

A motion was presented in the House of Commons by Sir John Randall last week calling for a close season in the hunting of the brown hare.

Initially a complete ban on any killing was going to be proposed by Sir John, but having listened to the scientific evidence presented by experts including our Director of Policy Alastair Leake, Sir John agreed that an extension of 1 February to 31 August to our brown hare code (below) would be the best course of action:

“From 1 March to 31 July hares should only be killed if they are…causing serious crop damage (as opposed to them being a potential source of risk). Not shooting at this time prevents the orphaning of dependent young during the hare’s main breeding season.”

Sir John praised our brown hare research, describing it as "extremely thorough" and highlighted the "impressive statistics" gleaned from our work at the Allerton Project farm.

The motion was read for the first time on 18th March and will be read a second time on Friday 6th June.