Background

The Pensthorpe Conservation Trust (PCT) was formed in January 2003 to carry forward the work of its predecessor, the Pensthorpe Waterfowl Trust; and to establish a centre of excellence in ecological restoration. Its focus is the captive breeding of threatened species, particularly those associated with wetlands, such as cranes and wildfowl (ducks, geese and swans); ecologically sustainable farming; plus habitat restoration and management.

Pensthorpe Conservation Centre is open to the public and shares visitor facilities with Pensthorpe Estate’s café, shop and park. Opening times are the same as Pensthorpe Estate and can be checked on its website (www.pensthorpe.com). Entry fees are collected on behalf of the PCT by the Pensthorpe Estate and are incorporated in a single joint admission charge.

Latest News

Click here to keep up to date with the news at Pensthorpe, including visitors, birds news and plans for the future.

Trust Structure

The PCT is a charitable Trust and operates exclusively on a not for profit basis, under the guidance of its Trustees. These are currently Professor David Bellamy OBE (chair), Bill Jordan MBE, Deb Jordan and Tim Nevard OAM. Its secretary is Brett Weimann. Tim Nevard, the Trust’s Director of Conservation is a corporate advisor and company director; splitting his time between North Norfolk and Far North Queensland.

Conservation Partnerships

The core philosophy is to seek to gain additional traction for its work through collaborating with other like-minded organisations. The PCT already has ongoing collaborations with the RSPB (http://www.rspb.org.uk/), the WWT (http://www.wwt.org.uk/) and the Norfolk Ornithologists Association (http://www.noa.org.uk/) as well as a twinning relationship with the Mareeba Tropical Savanna and Wetland Reserve, in Queensland, Australia(http://www.mareebawetlands.org/).

The PCT’s conservation partnership with Jordans Cereals (http://www.jordans-cereals.co.uk/) has created an ongoing collaboration that puts conservation right at the heart of commerce and sustainable farming. Through this relationship, the PCT has been able to leverage considerable funding and expertise into a wide variety of conservation projects, including research into sustainable farming techniques and practices, in partnership with the Guild of Conservation Grade Producers (www.conservationgrade.co.uk/).

The PCT is committed to collaboration and partnership as a core means of delivering biodiversity conservation.  It is engaged in a series of exciting projects, designed to bring back biodiversity to an increasingly ecologically impoverished countryside, involving as many people as possible. This can involve partnerships with individual landholders, groups, businesses, organisations and all levels of government.