THE Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust is appealing to farmers and gamekeepers to boost efforts to help save the wild grey partridge which has suffered a massive 86 per cent decline over the past 40 years.

The research charity has devised a New Year Action Plan that can be implemented in order to aid the recovery of the once familiar bird.

Professor Nick Sotherton, director of research with the GWCT, said: “The GWCT has spearheaded a massive campaign to halt the decline of this quintessentially English farmland bird. As well as running an extensive 40-year research programme into why grey partridges have declined so drastically, the research has led to the development of methods for re-establishing vital habitats that have been lost through changing agricultural practices.”

Prof Sotherton added: “A bonus is that other species will be helped as well.”

More information is available from Neville Kingdom on 01425 652381 or at gwct.org.uk/partridge