GWCT winds down farm tenancy after 10 years

After a decade of conservation success in Scotland, the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) has taken the decision not to renew its lease on Auchnerran Farm when it expires later this year.

The GWCT began its lease of Auchnerran Farm in Aberdeenshire in 2014 with the aim of demonstrating that a productive Scottish hill farm could successfully coexist with a thriving population of breeding waders. The farm now supports 1,850 breeding Blackface ewes, alongside a wide range of ground-nesting birds, waders, other wildlife, and a small-scale shoot.

However, due to uncertainty surrounding future agricultural subsidies in Scotland and a growing need for the GWCT to broaden its environmental research, the Trust has made the “difficult decision” not to extend the lease beyond 2025. Despite stepping away from the tenancy, the GWCT will continue to analyse and publish the wealth of research data generated during a decade of work at Auchnerran.

Dr Nick Hesford, Director of GWCT Scotland, commented:

“The achievements and incredible conservation work we have undertaken at Auchnerran makes me very proud. We are immensely grateful to everyone who has contributed to the success of the farm and our research over the years. In particular, we wish to thank our landlord Andrew Salvesen and his family for their exceptional generosity, support and vision throughout our tenancy.”

To learn more about the legacy and key achievements at Auchnerran, visit GWCT Auchnerran Farm.