Saving the Grey Partridge

Our latest Autumnwatch report looks at the work being done by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust to boost populations of the English Grey Partridge. Numbers have fallen by up to ninety per cent in some areas of the Midlands as farming practices have changed.

Sadly while filming we didn't manage to spot any grey partridges ourselves apart from "Nick and Suzanne", two rather magnificent but very dead examples stuffed and displayed on a mossy log.

Hopefully numbers will increase thanks to the work of the Trust and part of that work involves getting out into the country and counting the birds themselves. The more eyes the better as these birds can be very elusive, as we learnt when we tried to film them. Many of those involved in the work of the Trust are gamekeepers and landowners who run wild bird shoots on their land.

But you don't have to be part of the shooting community to help. If you have legal access to countryside and can spot a grey partridge then you can help with the count. More details of how you can take part are here.

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