The Somerset branch of the UK's leading wildlife charity has raised almost £1,000 for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI), a charity dedicated to supporting farm-workers and their families through difficult times.

Patrick Rose, chairman of the Somerset committee of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) presented a cheque for £993 to RABI's Pam Wills at the Dunster Show in August. The donation was made out of a total of £11,000 raised through auction at GWCT Somerset's annual fundraising dinner, held at Taunton School on 11 April this year.

Mr Rose said "We felt strongly that many members of the GWCT’s Somerset Committee had benefited from wildfowling on the levels over the years and the donation to the RABI was an opportunity to give something back to the rural community after the flooding disaster last winter."

The remainder of the proceeds will be directed towards funding the GWCT’s vital and groundbreaking wildlife research. For more information about the GWCT and its activities, please visit www.gwct.org.uk