A falconry organisation is spearheading a campaign to save the wild grey partridge, which has suffered an 86 per cent decline over the past 40 years.

The British Falconers’ Club (BFC) has joined forces with the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) to produce a DVD on methods to boost wild grey partridge numbers.

Peter Thompson, biodiversity advisor with GWCT, said: “We are thrilled with the results of this film, which really encapsulates the conservation techniques needed to help this struggling farmland bird. We are delighted to have collaborated with the BFC, especially as it is likely to increase the number of people working on partridge conservation.”

Fergus Beeley, of the BFC, said: “Falconers have been inextricably linked with wild grey partridges for centuries and as a consequence we have always enjoyed a close relationship with this important prey species. It is therefore a priority for us to share in the responsibility of increasing the number of greys in the wild.

“Working with GWCT to produce this new film is an essential part of the process and we hope it will give those involved in partridge conservation a better understanding of the methods needed to improve numbers and will thus help to make them a commonplace feature of the countryside.”

The DVD, that costs £2.50, is available by e-mailing jbushn ell@gwct.org.uk.