The Prince of Wales, Charles, has become a patron of the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT).

He follows in the footsteps of his father, The Duke of Edinburgh, who was involved with the trust for 56 years, first as president (1965-1973), then as a patron (1973 until his death in 2021).

“We are honoured and delighted that His Royal Highness has agreed to take on the role of Patron of the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust," said GWCT president Lord Salisbury KG KCVO PC DL.

"The Prince of Wales served as president of the trust between 1981 and 1987.

"We greatly look forward to working with him in the coming years.”

GWCT

The WCT is the UK’s leading charity conducting conservation science to enhance the British countryside for public benefit.

In addition to research, the trust provides practical advice and support to farmers and land managers to become ‘working conservationists’, balancing sustainable commercial food production with conservation.

The Prince of Wales' interest in the countryside and farming is well-known, with a particular focus on areas of research in which GWCT scientists are playing a key role, such as carbon-capture and nature-based solutions to the climate crisis.

His Royal Highness takes an active interest in several projects in which the GWCT is involved, including wild grey partridge and curlew conservation.

Since the 1950s, the GWCT has run a programme of research and monitoring of wild grey partridges, songbirds and invertebrates on the Sandringham Estate, originally under the auspices of The Duke of Edinburgh.

The improvement of the farmed environment continues. In addition to wildlife monitoring and insect sampling, the trust has also been assessing the quality of wildlife habitats and evaluating the influence of organic farming on biodiversity.

GWCT chairman, Sir Jim Paice DL said:

"GWCT recognises that wildlife needs management and our research shows that plenty of diversity can be provided alongside commercial farming.”