The go-forth estate

The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust’s demonstration farm at Loddington in Leicestershire has developed a reputation for innovation, research and education. The team at the farm hosts around 3,000 visitors a year, ranging from schoolchildren to policy-makers and politicians, helping the GWCT to spread important messages to wide and varied sections of society. Game management has played an important part on the farm, shaping habitats and providing predator control, helping not just game but also species such as hares and songbirds.

The 850-acre farm was originally owned by Lord and Lady Allerton and was bequeathed to the GWCT upon their death. Our involvement in the project stemmed from their keen interest in shooting and its role in the wider countryside. The project sets out to explore the potential for game management to deliver wider environmental objectives