Irish Grouse Conservation Trust bags coveted Purdey Award

On Tuesday 4th February the GunsOnPegs team were fortunate to be present at Apsley House - the residence of the Duke of Wellington, Chairman of the Panel of Judges - for the announcement of the winners of the 2019 Purdey Awards for Game and Conservation, which aims to find and reward the UK's most outstanding game and conservation projects.

The Purdey Awards for Game and Conservation have their origins in the Laurent-Perrier Wild Game and Conservation Awards, which were run annually by Laurent-Perrier Champagne (UK) Ltd from 1986 until 1998. James Purdey & Sons took over the Awards in 1999, with Laurent Perrier generously maintaining their support and connection through the provision of their champagne for the presentations ceremony, prizes for all the winners and finalists.

In the remarkable suroundings of His Grace's home, the walls of which are hung with paintings by the likes of Caravaggio, Titian, Goya, and Velasquez, an invited audience of industry figures witnessed the Duke and former MP Sir Nicholas Soames present the Gold Award, and the accompanying trophy and £5,000 cheque, to Peter Mackie of the Irish Grouse Conservation Trust. 

Reversing the decline in Irish Grouse

The Trust, based in County Antrim, was recognised by the panel for its remarkable work in moorland recovery which has allowed them to not only arrest, but reverse the decline in the population of Irish grouse (Lagopus lapogus hibernicus) - which is thought to be genetically distinct from its Scottish cousin (Lapogus lapogus scoticus).

The panel of Judges, which in addition to the Duke of Wellington includes former editor of Fieldsports Magazine and Director of Sales for Schöffel Marcus Janssen and Vice Chair of the BASC council Claire Sadler, were impressed by the Trust's innovative and hard work that has seen the flourishing of 1,000 acres of heather moorland and a revival in grouse numbers. The Trust's collaboration with partner organisations like the RSPB and the Police Service of Northern Ireland - Wildlife Protection also drew the panel's admiration. Alex Rodgers, the Trust's Grouse Keeper (the only one on the island of Ireland) adopted a program of controlled burning that works in step with the traditional grazing of the moor by sheep and cattle. With the help of Jim McAdam, Head of Grassland and Plant Sciences at Queen's University, Belfast), the Trust have also removed 100 acres of forestry with more earmarked for removal in coming years.

Grey partridge conservation

The Silver Award and cheque for £3,000.00 was given to The Roxburghe Estate in recognition and celebration of the success of their Grey Partridge restoration project.

The project was  conceived and initiated by the late Duke of Roxburghe who knew the estate had enjoyed historic success in holding significant numbers of Grey Partridge until the 1960s. The project enjoys the close collaboration and support of the tenant farmers who have joined environmental stewardship schemes to ensure the best creation and management of the field margins and hedgerows essential to this fragile species.  The result of this sustained work and effort has been a significant increase in partridge numbers and other species such as Skylark, Meadow Pippit, Linnet, Lapwing, Curlew and Oystercatcher. 

Wild driven teal

The Bronze Award and a cheque for £2,000.00 was given to the Fridlington Farm Shoot in North Yorkshire. This shoot was recognised for their passionate conservation work and specifically their remarkable wild driven Teal shoot, something sufficiently unusual that the GunsOnPegs team exchanged a look of interest. 

Creating a diverse habitat in East Sussex

A special commendation and a cheque for £1,000.00 was also given to Jamie Horner of the Iford
Down Shoot, East Sussex. You may recall that GunsOnPegs MD Chris Horne enjoyed a visit to Iford earlier this season.

When visiting the Iford Down shoot the judges were as impressed as Chris by Jamie Horner. Since taking over the shoot in 2016 Jamie has worked passionately to create a habitat and environment that has recorded a staggering 80 different species. The commendation recognized Jamie not just for the remarkable work and success of Iford Down but equally for his work with the RSPB and in the community as a whole educating people as to the role shooting plays in the countryside.