The return of the Grey Partridge – playing the long game to reinstate a beloved British bird

Even if you’ve never seen a Grey Partridge, you’ve probably sung about one – it’s famously perched in a pear tree in the carol The 12 Days of Christmas.

Fortunately, we don’t need to wait until December to see this rare species at Halnaker Hill Farm. While many plants, insects, animals and birds are finding their way naturally to the farm as it begins to return to nature, our team has given the Grey Partridge a helping hand.

Last year, we introduced some of these beautiful orange-faced, chestnut-tailed birds to the farm, in the hope they would make it their home.

The early signs are good, as Will Atkinson, our Agri-Environment Consultant, confirms. “The Grey Partridges are starting to pair up, and hopefully they’ll breed,” he says.

“Some have moved elsewhere but probably not very far – they may be leaving to feed and will then come back here. That’s expected, because the habitat won’t ever be confined to our fences. The aim is to create the right conditions for species to move around naturally.”

If the birds do breed at Halnaker Hill Farm, it will contribute to a nationwide effort to halt the decline of this treasured British species.

Once commonly found, they have suffered a 94% decline since the 1980s, a concerning statistic that can be attributed to the growth of intensified agriculture and the use of pesticides.

Will believes our journey with the Grey Partridge has only just begun. “At the moment they probably just like the farm because it’s got an unlimited amount of invertebrates, food, a bit of sanctuary, and not very many people,” he says.

“Fast forward 15 years, and they should really love it here. The hedges will be nice and bushy and the fringes around the edge will all be coming out, because it’s not going to be trimmed all the way around the edge of the farm like it once was. It should create the perfect habitat!”