HRH The Prince of Wales welcomes GWCT to Sandringham to plant avenue of trees commemorating The Duke of Edinburgh’s conservation legacy

“The conservation movement may have lost an extraordinary champion, but we are delighted to help assure his legacy at Sandringham," Sir Jim Paice DL

HRH The Prince of Wales welcomed the Chairman and the Chief Executive of the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) to the Sandringham Estate on Thursday 25 November 2021 for the planting of an avenue of trees commemorating The Duke of Edinburgh’s half-century of involvement with the Trust. 60 Common Lime trees Tilia europaea Pallida - a gift from the GWCT’s Trustees and Vice-Presidents – will form a new avenue, creating a wonderful landscape feature and wildlife habitat on The Queen’s Norfolk estate which was much loved by The Duke.

The Prince of Wales joined GWCT Chairman Sir Jim Paice DL and Chief Executive Teresa Dent CBE in planting the first of the wildlife-friendly Lime trees on the Estate. The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust is the UK’s leading charity conducting conservation science to enhance the British countryside for public benefit. HRH The Duke of Edinburgh had a 57-year association with the Trust, first as President (1965-1973), then as Patron (1973 until his death in 2021).

“GWCT trustees and vice-presidents chose to gift a new avenue of trees at Sandringham as a fitting tribute to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh’s remarkable contribution to the Trust and to conservation as a whole,” said Sir Jim Paice, GWCT Chairman. “The conservation movement and the GWCT in particular may have lost an extraordinary champion, but we are delighted to help assure his legacy at Sandringham today.”

Throughout his 57-year involvement with the GWCT, The Duke of Edinburgh took an active interest in the Trust’s conservation science. He made several visits to the GWCT’s demonstration farms, both the Allerton Project at Loddington in Leicestershire, and Auchnerran in Aberdeenshire, as well as their Hampshire headquarters.

Left to right: Sir Jim Paice (GWCT Chairman), HRH The Prince of Wales, Mr James Keith, Marquess of Downshire, Mr Ian Haddon. Copyright Trevor Taylor.

Left to right: HRH The Prince of Wales, Mrs Teresa Dent (GWCT Chief Executive), Mr Hugh Oliver-Bellasis, Mr James Keith, Mr James Bowdidge, Marquess of Downshire (just seen). Copyright Trevor Taylor.

Left to right: Mrs Daphne Oliver-Bellasis, Mrs Teresa Dent (GWCT Chief Executive), Mr Hugh Oliver-Bellasis, HRH The Prince of Wales, Mr James Keith, Sir Jim Paice (GWCT Chairman), Copyright Trevor Taylor.

His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh was President of the GWCT from 1965 to 1973, when he became Patron; a position he held for 48 years until his death in 2021.

The GWCT is an independent wildlife conservation charity which has carried out scientific research into Britain’s game and wildlife since the 1930s. We advise farmers and landowners on improving wildlife habitats. We employ 22 post-doctoral scientists and 50 other research staff with expertise in areas such as birds, insects, mammals, farming, fish and statistics. We undertake our own research as well as projects funded by contract and grant-aid from Government and private bodies. The Trust is also responsible for several Government Biodiversity Action Plan species and is lead partner for grey partridge and joint lead partner for brown hare and black grouse.

The 60 Lime trees were a gift by the Trustees and Vice-Presidents of the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, not from charitable funds.

Also in attendance at the tree planting: