THE grey partridge, which has suffered a serious decline in numbers over the past 30 years, is set to make a recovery in the Cotswolds.

A new initiative, The Cotswold Grey Partridge Recovery Group, has been set up by The Game Conservancy Trust in a bid to try and boost grey partridge numbers in the area and over 100 farmers and landowners attended the launch.

The Game Conservancy Trust has been appointed by government as lead partner for the Grey Partridge Biodiversity Plan which will help ensure that the partridge population, which has plummeted nationally from over one million pairs in Edwardian times to just 76,000 pairs now, stabilises this year and doubles by 2010. The Cotswold Grey Partridge Group is being chaired by farmer Mark Tufnell, of Calmsden Manor, Cirencester. He said: "The aim of the group is to compare notes, exchange ideas and give regular updates of what people need to do to manage their land for the grey partridge."

In addition to launching the new group, the Trust has launched The Cotswold Grey Partridge Trophy which will be presented each year to the farm or estate that has contributed most to the conservation of grey partridges in the Cotswold region. The presentation of the trophy to the first winner will be made in June, 2006, following the spring count of partridges.

For information on the Cotswold Grey Partridge Group or for copies of the new fact sheets, please contact The Game Conservancy Trust, Burgate Manor, Fordingbridge, Hants, telephone 01425 652381.