Curlews in crisis

Curlews are rapidly declining across Europe and the UK. Supported by the European Commission LIFE programme and other partners, Curlew LIFE aims to reverse these declines in five priority UK landscapes.

Curlew by Neal Warnock

The problem

Curlews have declined by 48% in the UK since the mid-1990s and populations remain unstable.

Curlew nest in cut rush by Gavin Thomas

What we're doing

Working with land managers and communities to improve habitat and raise awareness of curlew conservation issues.

Curlew chick by Neal Warnock

The goal

By December 2024, enhanced habitat conditions will lead to stable curlew populations within project sites.

Discover the project sites

This project is being delivered across five priority landscapes in Northern Ireland, Wales, England and Scotland. Each of these sites have been identified as important breeding areas for curlew.

RSPB Insh Marshes

RSPB Insh Marshes

Ysbyty Ifan and Hiraethog

Ysbyty Ifan and Hiraethog

Antrim Plateau

Antrim Plateau

Lough Erne Lowlands

Lough Erne Lowlands

RSPB Geltsdale and Hadrian's Wall

RSPB Geltsdale and Hadrian's Wall

Our partners

The Curlews in crisis project is managed by the RSPB with generous support from the EU LIFE programme and the following project partners; Cairngorms Connect, Fellfoot Forward Landscape Partnership Scheme, Natural Resources Wales and NIEA-DAERA.

Cairngorms Connect is part of the Endangered Landscapes Programme, which is managed by the Cambridge Conservation Initiative in partnership with Arcadia - a charitable fund of Lisbet Rousing and Peter Baldwin.

Fellfoot Forward Landscape Partnership Scheme is led by North Pennines AONB Partnership and funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Additional funding was also been received from the Government's Green Recovery Challenge Fund. The fund was developed by Defra and its Arm's-Length Bodies. It was delivered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England, the Environment Agency and Forestry Commission.