GWCT Event in honour of HRH Prince Philip

On Thursday 18th May, a very special charity day was held at Sandringham Estate by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), honouring the extraordinary legacy of HRH The late Duke of Edinburgh’s contribution to conservation.

The GWCT is the UK’s leading independent wildlife research charity. For more than 80 years it has worked closely with land managers resulting in ground-breaking science, including some of the longest running farmland wildlife monitoring projects in the world.

First as President and then Patron, Prince Philip’s involvement with the GWCT spanned more than half a century, reflecting a lifelong passion for conservation. Ahead of his time, His Royal Highness saw the risk to wildlife of both the evolution of agriculture and urban encroachment on the countryside.

Director Kaylie and Senior Account Director & Head of Agency Culture Rachel had the privilege of supporting the GWCT with the event. This included pre event preparations such as securing luxury lots for the live auction and raffle from the likes of Farlows, West London Shooting School, Le Chameau and Fairfax & Favor who all kindly donated to the cause. Kaylie and Rachel also assisted on the day with set up and hosting a group of 60 guest for a private tour inside Sandringham Estate.

THE RESULTS ARE IN

The event was a huge success and it was so wonderful to see so many guests travel from far and wide to join for the simulated clay day and support the GWCT in the beautiful surroundings of Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. It was the single most successful fundraising event the GWCT has ever hosted - raising a staggering £330,000 - and we were so honoured to be part of it.

FROM THE ORGANISERS

“The late Duke of Edinburgh was the GWCT’s long-serving Patron and our most knowledgeable and incisive advocate. Sandringham is where he put so many of his conservation principles into practice and we were extraordinarily lucky to be allowed to hold this event there, so appropriately, in his memory.” - Lord Salisbury

“We are honoured to have held this event at Sandringham, and hugely grateful for the funds raised, which will make a really significant contribution to the Trust’s scientific research and advisory service. His Royal Highness The late Duke of Edinburgh knew that for wildlife conservation to work it has to fit into modern farming systems. He was a great example of a Working Conservationist because he really understood both UK agriculture and species conservation and he wanted everyone to be able to access wildlife not just those lucky enough to live near nature reserves. In this way he was a wonderful advocate of the GWCT approach.” - Sir Jim Paice, former agriculture minister and chairman of the GWCT

“The late Duke of Edinburgh worked with GWCT scientists and advisors for many years at Sandringham, so it was such a fitting tribute to hold this event and we are incredibly grateful to all those who made it possible. In terms of research, the Trust is probably doing more on the estate than ever including bird counts, invertebrate monitoring and comparing food availability in organic and non-organic farming systems, building knowledge that will be invaluable in efforts to restore the rest of the UK’s farmed environment.” - Teresa Dent, Chief Executive