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Call
for volunteers to join Europe's biggest farmer-led bird counting
scheme
THE GAME Conservancy Trust, a game and wildlife conservation
charity is looking for volunteers to carry out bird counts on
farmland across the country in spring and autumn in an effort to
help restore the wild grey partridge, one of our most threatened
birds.
The Game Conservancy Trust manages the National Grey Partridge Count
Scheme, which is one of the most successful farmer-led bird
monitoring schemes in Europe. But in order to save this rapidly
declining gamebird, the Trust is eager to encourage more people to
count grey partridges.
The wild grey partridge has suffered a massive population decline of
more than 85% over the past three decades. Research by the Trust has
revealed that a variety of causes have gradually eroded the
partridge population, including lack of food, reduction in habitat,
predators and weather.
"Establishing a team of bird-watchers to count partridges will
make our existing count scheme even more successful and will add to
our effort to save this iconic bird species.
Our National Count Scheme already receives contributions from more
than 1,000 farmers, but on busy estates the partridge counts are
sometimes missed. This information is vital. It helps us to form a
national picture of the partridge population and this enables us to
direct advice and support to areas where the population is still
continuing to decline or has disappeared completely." explains Dr
Nick Sotherton, Director of Research with the Trust.
This new initiative by the Trust forms part of a range of measures
aimed at changing the fortunes of the wild grey partridge. People
interested in participating in the count scheme should contact the
Trust, who will match up volunteers with farmers or landowners who
wish to have help counting their partridge populations in spring or
autumn.
For further information on The Game Conservancy Trust's National
Grey Partridge Count Scheme, or for a grey partridge conservation
guide please contact: Neville Kingdon, The Game Conservancy Trust,
Fordingbridge, Hampshire. SP6 1EF. Telephone on 01425 651066, or
visit this
website.
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Police warn of bogus phone calls
Report issued
by Merseyside Police
THIS week
Merseyside Police are warning members of the public to be aware of
the fact that a person is making bogus phone calls.
A number of members of the public have received calls from a man
claiming to be a police officer. On most occasions he claims that a
mobile phone has been found at the scene of a road traffic collision
and the last number dialled is the number of the person he is
calling. He then goes on to say that they should attend at Belle
Vale police station immediately, or else the police will track them
down and prosecute them.
Chief Superintendent Andy Cooke, said:- "These calls are very
distressing for the people who receive them and already a number of
people have been in to see the Enquiry officer at Belle Vale,
including a couple in their 80s and a number of young mums.
We will take action against those who makes this type of hoax call
and I would always urge members of the public to report any such
call to the police.
I would like to take this opportunity to remind people that if they
do receive a call like this they should insist on asking the caller
for his name, rank and collar number and the police station where he
works along with a contact telephone number. If in doubt call the
police on 0151 709 6010 and ask for the relevant police station to
confirm if the caller is genuine."
AA
VOTED THE BEST AT KEEPING BUSINESSES ON THE ROAD
AA BUSINESS Services has clinched two prestigious fleet
industry awards for keeping businesses and their drivers on the
road, winning both the Service Supplier and Vehicle Recovery
Provider of the year in the 2006 Fleet Excellence Awards.
This is the second time that AA Business Services has been
recognised as service supplier of the year in the award’s 6 year
history. David Wallace, director of AA Business Services, comments:-
“This award is recognition of our commitment to customer
service and dedication to keeping businesses on the road. We are
constantly innovating to make life easier for our business customers
and from early 2006, for the first time, they will be able to buy
breakdown cover from the AA on the internet. We have also developed
a new risk management service to help businesses manage vehicle and
driver safety, including risk audits, driver assessments, driver
training, policy advice, driving licence checking and accident
management."
Commenting on the vehicle recovery provider award, Wallace adds:-
“We are delighted to have won this award which is further
recognition of the AA’s position as the largest roadside assistance
provider. With 1.3 million fleet customers and more dedicated
patrols than any other roadside assistance provider, our aim is to
keep business customers moving, with around 8 out of 10 breakdowns
being fixed at the roadside.”
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