FARMERS and landowners in Cumbria and Lancashire are being urged to join a new group dedicated to the recovery of one of the UK's most threatened farmland birds Numbers of grey partridges have declined by 87 per cent over the last 40 years according to the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust.

In an attempt to address the situation, the trust is launching the Cumbria and Lancashire Grey Partridge Group at the village hall, Warwick on Eden, on April 24, an event which will include talks on the ecology of wild grey partridges, the reasons for their decline and the importance of the bird to the region.

To book a place at the launch or for further details contact Lynda Ferguson on 01425-651013 or email lferguson@gct.org.uk For full story see the April 4 edition of The Westmorland Gazette.