Photo by Helen Ryman
Free webinars
Curlews are caught in the crossfire of many of the conservation debates in the UK including: predator control, forestry, and agricultural practices. These topics can be complex and emotive and therefore at times difficult to discuss openly.
In our free webinar series Conservation: lessons from the Curlew, Curlew Action is working to address these topics by inviting expert speakers to present on their area of expertise, and to answer questions from the audience.
Our upcoming webinars are listed below.
Curlews of the world
Wednesday 5th June, 18.30-20.00
This webinar celebrates the different curlew species found across the globe.
Photo by Ingrid V Taylar via Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
We are pleased to share our 2024 webinar schedule:
- 16th May: Curlews & extinction
- 12th June: Curlews & development
- 11th September: Curlews & social science
- 16th October: 2024 UK breeding season
- 13th November: 2024 Europe breeding season
Other events
Ground Nest Fest
- Willow Curlews in aid of Curlew Action
- Wednesday 17th April, 09.45-16.30 (Broadrake Bunkbarn, Chapel-le-dale, Ingleton, North Yorkshire)
A second date for the lovely Curlew workshop which is part of Ground Nest Fest event hosted by Wild Ingleborough, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust running from 13th-21st April 2024. They will be running events throughout the week to raise awareness of the difficulties faced by ground nesting birds in the Dales.
This workshop is suitable for beginners and Phil will guide you step by step through all the stages, along with chat and laughter. Each curlew will take on it’s own unique pose as you add the neck and head and everyone will go home with a lovely sculpture. They look great set in long meadow grasses, or the garden border, or in a corner in the home too.
All profits from this 2nd workshop will be donated to Curlew Action.
The price of £85 includes all refreshments with home-baking and a freshly made lunch, but please note that there is a material charge of £10 for the willow payable to the tutor at the workshop.
- Farm Walk & Talk
- Wednesday 17th April, 17.30-21.00 (Crows Nest Barn near Settle, Austwick, North Yorkshire, LA2 8AS)
Join us for an inspiring evening, with delicious food!
Pete Webster, dairy farmer at Lawkland Hall Farm and supplier of milk for the Courtyard Dairy’s own farmhouse cheese, will show us some of the ways he manages his farm to support ground-nesting birds, particularly the curlews which are – for now – abundant in the area.
A short walk before sunset will be followed by a delicious meal at Rind (a selection of pizzas for sharing will be served; please inform us of your dietary requirements).
After the meal there will be a talk from Mary Colwell, chair of the Curlew Recovery Partnership England, of the charity Curlew Action, and published author, producer and campaigner for nature. She has won many accolades for her conservation campaigning work, and successfully spearheaded the campaign for a GCSE in Natural History. In recent years Mary has led the way in bringing together different stakeholders with a common interest in reversing the decline of England’s curlews, and we are delighted to be welcoming her to our festival.
World Curlew Day
- Saturday 20th April, 10.00 (walk at Farndale), 19.00 (The Band Room)
Join us for two special World Curlew Day 2024 events! Get ready for a day of walking, talking, watching, listening - and very special music - in the stunning North Yorkshire Moors.
They will take place on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at Farndale, a picturesque location known for its natural beauty. Starting at 10.00, the 3-hour, 5-mile walk on the moor will take you to see the birds calling and displaying. Led by expert naturalists, you will deepen your understanding of these remarkable birds and their habitats, learn how they are faring across the UK and all the work being done to save them.
In the evening at 19.00 in the famous The Band Room, platinum singer/songwriter and life-long naturalist, David Gray, will be in conversation with Mary Colwell, author conservationist, and founder of Curlew Action. They will discuss how nature affects David's music and what he is doing to support them. Throughout, David will play live music.
Whether you're a bird lover, a nature enthusiast, a David Gray fan, or simply curious about these fascinating birds, you won't want to miss World Curlew Day 2024!
Mark your calendars and join us to celebrate our iconic and much-loved Curlew. We look forward to welcoming you to Farndale on April 20, 2024.
- An Evening with David Gray and Mary Colwell. Curlews, Conversation, and Live Music.
- Sunday 21st April, 19.00, Alnwick Playhouse
The Duke of Northumberland invites you to a special event in Alnwick Playhouse on behalf of ‘Curlew Action’, a charity set up to reverse the catastrophic decline of the Eurasian Curlew, our largest wading bird.
Mary Colwell, author and founder of ‘Curlew Action’ will share the stage with David Gray, renowned signer/songwriter and a passionate advocate of curlew conservation, for an evening of conservation and live music.
Global Birdfair
- Friday 12th - Sunday 14th July, Lyndon Top, Rutland
We are pleased to be returning to the Global Birdfair this summer. More details to follow.