Prince Charles becomes new patron of Fordingbridge charity

He follows in the footsteps of his father HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, who was involved with the Trust for 56 years, first as President from 1965-1973, and then as Patron right up until his death in 2021.

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

“Like HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales has long taken an interest in the work of the Trust developing and promoting science-based game and wildlife management techniques for the benefit of biodiversity in the British countryside.

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

The Prince of Wales previously served as President of the Trust from 1981 to 1987.

The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust 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’s 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.

The Prince of Wales is pictured at a tree planting ceremony for the GWCT at the Sandringham Estate recently, part of a major project to improve the farmed environment.

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