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Posted: 19th December 2023

Nature reserve expanded to help save turtle doves
The number of breeding pairs in the UK has dropped by more than 98 per cent since 1970.
National Trust acquires land adjoining Wicken Fen.

The National Trust has acquired 70 acres of land next to its Wicken Fen nature reserve in Cambridgeshire as part of a project to protect rare species such as turtle doves.

Once a common summer visitor to the UK, turtle doves are now on the conservation Red List. In 2021, around 2,100 breeding pairs were recorded in the UK, down from an estimated 125,000 pairs in 1970.

Parts of the newly bought land will be used to support turtle doves and other farmland birds, by restoring a mix of farmland habitats such as hedgerows, field margins, and lowland meadows.

In the spring, when migratory birds start to arrive, the National Trust plans to survey the biodiversity of the site. The number of turtle doves will be recorded during their breeding season as part of Operation Turtle Dove, a project run by the RSPB, Natural England and the Pensthorpe Conservation Trust.

The newly acquired 70 acres extend the existing Wicken Fen nature reserve, which was the first nature reserve acquired by the National Trust when it bought two acres in 1899. Now more than 2,000 acres in size, the site supports over 9,300 species.

Alan Kell, countryside manager for the National Trust’s Wicken Fen, said: “As outlined in the State of Nature report released in September this year, the UK is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world, with a significant part of this a result of habitat loss.

“This acquisition and the support of Natural England's Species Recovery Programme will provide the opportunity to restore scarce habitats such as lowland meadow, hedgerows, arable field margins and ponds, and expand Wicken Fen to provide a green corridor for the benefit of both nature; including many nationally threatened species such as the turtle dove, but also for people, by providing additional access to green spaces.”

Mike Shurmer, head of species at RSPB England, added: “The ambition of the communities we work with through Operation Turtle Dove to help save these iconic birds is nothing short of amazing, and if we continue with this momentum, it won’t be long before we can expect to see turtle dove numbers starting to rise across the UK.”

Image © Shutterstock



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