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| Partridge habitat in Britain. The yellow is optimum habitat for grey partridges with a high proportion of arable farmland. Green is less optimal ground where livestock rearing out-weighs arable farming in importance. Grey areas are unsuited to grey partridges for a variety of reasons. (From CEH Land Cover and OS Geographic Reference maps) |
The grey partridge was in the first group of species to be given priority under the Government's Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) in 1995. The plan aims to stabilise grey partridge numbers by 2005 and ensure that the breeding population is above 150,000 pairs by 2010. It recognises that the key to achieving this will be to shift the emphasis in agricultural subsidies and to improve Agri-environment Schemes. The plan does not propose the protection of special sites nor the protection of the species. Our analysis at The Game Conservancy Trust (see map above) suggests that the total quantity of habitat available is easily sufficient to meet the BAP targets. Indeed were partridges to be distributed at even modest densities across the existing farmland there is adequate land available for over 500,000 pairs.
The Government is committed to improving the status of birds like the grey partridge and it is one of the 20 farmland species of bird being used as a "quality of life" indicator. We expect part of this commitment to be shown through the addition of arable conservation options within the Countryside Stewardship scheme.
Measures taken to improve grey partridges will improve the numbers of other species of farmland bird.
SIGN UP TO HELP THE GREYSAs part of its role as lead partner of the grey partridge Biodiversity Action Plan, The Game Conservancy Trust helps landowners conserve their grey partridge stocks. The Game Conservancy Trust guides farmers through the basics of management, putting the emphasis on regular counts and calculations of breeding success. This monitoring is essential to judge the success of habitat improvement. Contact: |
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Counting grey partridges in late summer to assess breeding success. (Stephen
Tapper)
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