Farming family give support to rare bird

A project to protect a rare bird has inspired a farming family to help give them a fighting chance.

Wyn and Lisa Morton run a farm in the Rhydtalog area, near Llandegla. They have been operating the farm for 40 years, with Wyn having taken the reins from his father, and now farming with John his son. John is the fourth generation on this family farm, farming beef and sheep. The land is made up of semi-improved pasture on undulating loam and peat over silica rock.

This year the family joined a group of farmers supporting a protect designed to protect curlews.

Clwydian Range and Dee valley National Landscapes is taking part in the project "Curlew Connections Wales", a Curlew Recovery Wales partnership project working with Bannau Brycheiniog and GWCT.

This is under Gylfinir Cymru, an all-Wales partnership that aims to help breeding Curlew across the country, including Denbighshire.

The birds are under severe threat and are 'Red Listed' on both the Welsh and UK Birds of Conservation Concern (BoCC). Over 80 percent of the breeding population has been lost across Wales since the 1990's.

This decline is due to a number of reasons including habitat loss, pressures during nesting season and the impact of predation on the birds.

Collaborative work is happening across the Clwydian Range and Dee valley National Landscapes area to protect the birds which is funded by Welsh Government through the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). This includes a large area of Denbighshire, as well as parts of Flintshire and Wrexham.

This season approximately 36 curlew pairs were located, and electric fences were put up around a few nests to protect the birds and eggs from predation.

Looking at their first year supporting the project run by Local Curlew and People Officer Sam Kenyon, Wyn explained: "I've always enjoyed having the wildlife aspect of our farm over the years, and being aware of the variety of wildlife on different areas of the farm, both native and migrating species.

"We've been encouraged by the passion of our newly appointed Curlew Officer. It's inspired us to play a more active role in managing for the Curlew.

Farmers can make a difference for under threat wildlife added Wyn.

"Sometimes simple management can help on peripheral areas of less productive land. Unfortunately in the more modern agricultural climate it has become that full utilisation of agricultural land is essential for the well-being of the farming enterprise. Obviously practical experience of project staff and financial incentives soften the blow to encourage the involvement of interested farming families.

As thoughts turn towards the second breeding season for the project in 2025, farming help is once again needed to help give curlews the best chance of survival.

Wyn added: "If you found that you have the habitat for ground nesting birds, you might find the land is ear marked by the Curlews and if like our situation, it maybe some of your less productive land which lends itself to a few simple management changes.

"Changes which the Curlew Connections Wales project are more than happy to help implement. Due to the influence of the officer there is a compensation package to acknowledge your efforts and your considerations."

Local Curlew and People Officer Sam Kenyon, said : "I want to thank Wyn and all our supportive farmers on the project, we couldn't monitor and protect the local population of our endangered, and practically hefted, Curlew without them.

"Our working farmland is so important being that these birds, with their stunning call, are biologically tuned to return to their breeding sites year on year, being they are nest site faithful".

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Biodiversity Champion, said:

"This is an important project for a bird that was once a popular sight not just in Denbighshire and North Wales but across the whole of the UK. We are extremely grateful for the immense support provided by Wyn, his family and the farming community towards this project this year alongside the small team of volunteers who have worked with the lead officer to monitor this important animal. Farmers on the project have given this under-threat bird a vital chance this season and we look forward to next season."

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