Pulling together in a difficult year

big-ticket events in Edinburgh and London, as well as our New York auction run by our sister charity Game Conservancy USA. Collectively these raise considerable funds, but all events stopped immediately in March, so we knew from the start that Covid-19 was going to have a serious impact.

Our members and supporters were unbelievably generous in increasing their support through online appeals, joining as members, taking part in online auctions, responding to direct mail and fundraising campaigns, or simply by giving more and more often. Staff were also incredibly supportive accepting a salary sacrifice through short-timing, and many being furloughed for parts of the year. I have often said that being chief executive of a charity is a humbling experience due to the generosity of spirit that so many demonstrate; 2020 was a very strong reminder of that.

It is a privilege to have the opportunity in this Review to thank members, supporters, donors, county groups, staff, trustees, vice-presidents, sponsors and those fieldworking friends and families for all they did to help us keep going in 2020.

Our excellent chief executive Teresa Dent explained the challenges we all faced in her introduction, but I must add my thanks and appreciation to all involved with the GWCT for their support during the most difficult year imaginable. Our staff have all been affected both financially and in their work but without them, we would be nothing whether in the field or the office; a huge thank you to all of them.

For our supporters around the country I can only commiserate over the lack of social events, clay days and of course the shooting season itself, but I am also hugely grateful for the funds and donations raised in difficult circumstances.

When I wrote my piece for last year’s Review I referred to the challenges affecting us. They have not gone away and more have presented themselves. The decision by the Scottish Government to ignore the report of the Werritty Review and decide to license grouse shooting flies in the face of science. Yet GWCT’s evidence was clearly instrumental in persuading Defra to limit its restrictions on heather burning to areas of deep peat despite the pressure from the ill-informed. I must confess to extreme frustration every time I hear or read the expression ‘peat burning’. That is a typical abuse of language to give the wrong impression.

As I write we are trying hard to persuade Defra to follow the evidence over the release of gamebirds on or near European protected sites; its initial decision was better than if it had given in to Wild Justice, but nevertheless we are still working hard to ensure Defra base its policies on the science, much of which was undertaken by the GWCT.

The Agriculture Bill has now completed its passage through Parliament and I am pleased that the principles of the new ELMS scheme follow the advice of GWCT. As always the devil is in the detail, which at the moment is sorely lacking. Much will depend on the rates of payment as to whether farmers take up the options with the enthusiasm which we hope.

Last year I also mentioned that the shooting and rural organisations are working together more to promote best practice, and I hope that in the coming months we will see more evidence of this joint work with a more unified approach. In my view it must be more than defensive; it must face up to bad practice where it exists and seek to raise the standards of all to the best. The GWCT is not a shooting organisation, but we act as scientific advisers to the shooting community. The best practice is based on our research and proves beyond doubt that a well-run shoot delivers more biodiversity than similar ground without a shoot. Sir Jim Paice GWCT Chairman

“nevertheless we are still working hard to ensure Defra base its policies on the science, much of which was undertaken by the GWCT ”