23 October 2017

New badge released to raise awareness of a declining bird

Curlew Badge

A NEW badge has just been released by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) to raise awareness of a species in danger of extinction.

The curlew pin badge was designed as part of the Trust’s Action for Curlew campaign which launched earlier this year in a bid to save this rare bird.

The badge is on sale for £9.99 and £5 from each purchase goes directly to the campaign that gives advice to farmers, landowners and gamekeepers on the actions they can take to reverse this bird’s alarming decline.

There are just 300 pairs of breeding curlew left south of Birmingham and, at the current rate of loss, they will disappear from this region in the next eight years.

Numbers have plummeted due to a number of reasons including habitat loss and predation pressure.

In areas where predator numbers are controlled, GWCT research has demonstrated that curlew can breed more successfully.

Despite this, there is not currently provision within conservation policy to support those who, having provided ideal habitat for curlew, also wish to reduce the threat of egg and chick predation.

However, the need for predation control was raised in parliament on Tuesday by Newbury MP and GWCT trustee Richard Benyon.

Roger DraycottAnd following his well-received speech, Thérèse Coffey, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Environment, declared that she will be asking Natural England and policy officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to include the use of predator control in all current and future projects that they fund.

Head of advisory at GWCT Roger Draycott, pictured right, welcomed the Under Secretary’s remarks on this matter. He also said of the new badges: “Funds generated from the sale of these badges will help us provide targeted habitat management advice and predation control training for anyone involved in practical curlew conservation in the lowlands.”

Sales are going well and anyone wishing to buy the badge click here http://www.gwct.org.uk/curlewbadge


Notes to editors

The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust – providing research-led conservation for a thriving countryside. The GWCT is an independent wildlife conservation charity which has carried out scientific research into Britain’s game and wildlife since the 1930s. We advise farmers and landowners on improving wildlife habitats. We employ 22 post-doctoral scientists and 50 other research staff with expertise in areas such as birds, insects, mammals, farming, fish and statistics. We undertake our own research as well as projects funded by contract and grant-aid from Government and private bodies. The Trust is also responsible for a number of Government Biodiversity Action Plan species and is lead partner for grey partridge and joint lead partner for brown hare and black grouse.

For information, contact:
Eleanor Williams
Telephone: 07592 025476
Email: press@gwct.org.uk