Last month saw the esteemed gun and rifle makers, Purdey, name the winners of their coveted 2013 Game and Conservation Awards. Running since 1999, when James Purdey & Sons took over the annual Game and Conservation Awards established by Laurent-Perrier Champagne (UK) Ltd in 1986, this event celebrates and recognises those who are not only involved in the world of shoot management and conservation, but those whose efforts have achieved outstanding results in improving game bird habitats and the biodiversity of their land.
Voted by a panel of judges – including The Duchess of Devonshire; Jonathan Kennedy of CKD Kennedy Macpherson, Charles Nodder, PRO National Gamekeepers Organisation and Alastair Balmain, Editor Shooting Times -the Gold Award and a cheque for £5000 was presented to estate owner Count Konrad Goess-Saurau. Since purchasing Temple Shoot at Rockley, the Count has completely transformed it, planting 23 miles of new hedgerows, over a million trees, and in the past 5 years, constructing 9 new dew ponds to help support a healthy population of roe deer.
Commenting on Temple Farm’s success, Awards Organiser Richard Purdey said: “This is a most impressive entry by any standard. Count Goess wins our Gold Award not only for the leading role it has played with 41 other farms involved in this Nature Improvement area, but also for actively encouraging visits from local schools and the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester to see, first hand, how this exemplary estate manages its farming, conservation and shoot.”
The Purdey Silver Award was presented to Nicholas Watts, of Vine House Farm, Market Deeping near Spalding and the Bronze went to Lady Sondes, owner of Lees Court Shoot near Faversham, Kent.
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