The Duchy of Cornwall shares its continued involvement in recovering endangered Curlew birds on Dartmoor, one of the most important Southerly breeding populations.
Curlew, classified on the UK Birds of Conservation Concern’s ‘Red list’, breeding population has declined by 85% since 1985. This year, the Duchy of Cornwall continues to support the conservation of the species and will drive forward the recovery project again this summer.
The Dartmoor Curlew Recovery Project takes place on Duchy land, where landscape scale plans have been devised to enhance Curlew habitat, undertake targeted predator control and use an innovative technique developed by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust to ‘head-start’ Curlew.
The WWT and Natural England identified Curlew eggs laid alongside RAF runways in East Anglia that are otherwise removed to protect aircraft, could be incubated, with the chicks reared to support smaller populations elsewhere. The Dartmoor project is the first UK upland example of its kind for Curlew conservation.
The Dartmoor Curlew Recovery Project takes place on Duchy land, where landscape scale plans have been devised to enhance Curlew habitat, undertake targeted predator control and use an innovative technique developed by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust to ‘head-start’ Curlew.
The WWT and Natural England identified Curlew eggs laid alongside RAF runways in East Anglia that are otherwise removed to protect aircraft, could be incubated, with the chicks reared to support smaller populations elsewhere. The Dartmoor project is the first UK upland example of its kind for Curlew conservation.
Tom Stratton, Land Steward at the Duchy of Cornwall in Devon, said: “It is hugely rewarding to be involved in such an exciting project that brings together farming, conservation, and people. We are so grateful to all those, particularly our farm tenants, The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, who have helped make this happen.”
Duchy of Cornwall farm tenants and brothers, Neil and Mat Cole, have played a pivotal role with support from the RSPB, Natural England and the Dartmoor National Park Authority, to spearhead the conservation of Curlew.
Neil Cole, Duchy of Cornwall Tenant, says: “My family and I are pleased to support this innovative project, which is a reminder of the strong relationship between farming and the environment, and we very much hope to hear the evocative call of the Curlew once again on Dartmoor in the years to come.”
60 Curlew have been reared and released to date, with a further 30 to be released in July and August this year. The news follows other sustainability initiatives devised on the Duchy’s Dartmoor Estate, such as the Wistman’s Wood regeneration and expansion plan, to support the Duchy’s vision of Sustainable Stewardship.
Neil Cole, Duchy of Cornwall Tenant, says: “My family and I are pleased to support this innovative project, which is a reminder of the strong relationship between farming and the environment, and we very much hope to hear the evocative call of the Curlew once again on Dartmoor in the years to come.”
60 Curlew have been reared and released to date, with a further 30 to be released in July and August this year. The news follows other sustainability initiatives devised on the Duchy’s Dartmoor Estate, such as the Wistman’s Wood regeneration and expansion plan, to support the Duchy’s vision of Sustainable Stewardship.
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