Saving Curlews and Building Nature-Rich Landscapes

Aim

To support anyone working on Curlew conservation by sharing fresh ideas, creating nature-rich landscapes and tackling climate change.

Who are we, and what is our project about?

Curlew Action is a small but highly impactful charity set up by Mary Colwell in 2019. It is dedicated to reversing the decline of one of the UK's  most iconic birds, the Eurasian Curlew, and to increase nature and climate awareness across society. We work with everyone who desires a better future for people, the planet, its climate and its wildlife.  By protecting species we protect their habitats and help mitigate against climate change. The restoration of nature and the reversal of climate change are intricately interlinked.

Eurasian Curlew in a wildflower meadow, a rich habitat for insects, other species and for storing carbon (Photo Curlew Action)

Introduction

Curlew Action is small in size but has a disproportionately big impact on the conservation landscape. We are widely respected across varied sectors. We raise awareness and share ideas on saving Curlews, their habitats and the wildlife that lives alongside them, and we increase the understanding of the link between healthy biodiversity and climate change. We inspire action on the ground by identifying problems and sharing solutions in an open and accessible way. We work with a wide array of people - conservationists, scientists, artists, writers, musicians and the public.

A Curlew Action mural in Stroud, Gloucestershire, showing the birds, wildflower meadows and the importance of healthy soils to support wildlife and carbon storage.  (Photo ATM)

Healthy soils = healthy wildlife = stable climate

We support local communities to get involved in conservation and climate change mitigation in any way they can. Some contribute through adopting nature- friendly farming and landscape management, others through personal talents and by engaging local communities in cultural activities such as art, poetry, literature and music. Our outreach has enabled all kinds of people to contribute, from ages 4 to 94. Curlew Action believes everyone has a part to play in creating a healthier, stable and nature-rich future which is good for people, the climate and wildlife.

We support the United Nations statement: "The Earth’s land and the ocean serve as natural carbon sinks, absorbing large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. Conserving and restoring natural spaces, and the biodiversity they contain, is essential for limiting emissions and adapting to climate impacts." This is exactly the mission of Curlew Action and the basis for what we do.

Curlew Fieldworker Workshop in Norfolk, February 2024, supported by AVIVA (Photo Curlew Action)

The Curlew Action European Curlew Fieldworker Workshops provide a focal point. We bring people together who are directly involved in on-the-ground action to share ideas and provide solutions. We alternate between in-person and online meetings, and we host webinars, talks and special events. We help find solutions to common issues such as damaging farming practices and climate change. 

We encourage people to create new networks by engaging with people from different areas and backgrounds. This increases outreach and effectiveness in a practical way across the country. The fieldworkers take what they have learned back to their own communities to inspire more effective action. 

We encourage the rewetting soils, increasing diverse vegetation (like wildflower meadows), promote healthy soils and repairing dried out and damaged peatland - all of which help absorb carbon AND enhance biodiversity. We follow up with newsletters, webinars and education packs to underline best practice.

How Curlews are Leading the Way to a Climate Resilient Future

Healthy Curlew habitats are good for the climate as they depend on rich soils, damp conditions, varied vegetation, minimal disturbance and insect abundance.  Curlews are telling us about the health and resilience of landscapes, if they are declining we are failing to protect and stabilise habitats across the UK.

As a much-loved bird, valued by landowners, farmers, scientists and the pubic alike, they draw a wide variety of people into the environmental world. However, Curlews are declining rapidly because they cannot fledge enough chicks - the UK has lost 60% of its breeding population in just 25 years. 

Curlews nest across a range of landscapes from the lowlands to the uplands - they are birds of working landscapes. By helping Curlews we are directly helping a variety of different habitats, engaging more farmers and landowners in conservation and inspiring local communities to get involved.

Curlew face a range of threats from farming activities to damaging climate change. (Photo WWT)

Curlew chicks are increasingly affected by tick infestations due to the warming climate. Ticks are also affecting human health. (photo Ralph Percy)

Curlew nesting in an intensive arable field. By promoting nature-friendly farming we will better protect soils, store carbon and save wildlife. (photo Henk Jan Ottens)

Flooded Curlew nesting areas in Gloucestershire in 2025 (photo wiki)

A nest of eggs drowned due to unseasonal flooding (photo Curlew  Action)

In other areas, the hot, dry weather  in 2025 has caused nests to fail where there is little shade and no water. This year, groups of chicks were found sheltering under bushes, a behaviour unheard of in the past. By creating scrapes and a diverse array of vegetation for feeding and sheltering, wildlife can better cope with the more extreme shifts in the weather in the breeding season. (photo Harry Ewing)

As Curlews are widely appreciated across society and so provide a psychological boost to local communities. They are an ideal species  'to hang your hat on' to explain big issues. Climate change can seem overwhelming and demoralising, but by focussing on a much loved bird we can galvanise action and better focus attention on what protects wildlife, people and the climate. Curlews ignite passion for the environment, appealing to all age groups.

Why the Focus on Fieldworkers?

The ideas and knowledge of fieldworkers are invaluable yet rarely heard. Curlew Action has shown that those who go into the field to do the practical work ( eg put up fences, monitor the birds, create the habitat, liaise with landowners and outreach to local communities, for example), have a wealth of experience to share. They can also help each other think through shared issues. By offering different ways of bringing everyone together, and by providing post-meeting support, we can help everyone work more effectively on the ground in their local projects.  

The atmosphere at the last in-person workshop, which focussed on new conservation techniques and land management  (wonderfully supported by AVIVA). It was warm, friendly, cooperative, highly successful and welcoming. Many of the delegates thanked us for giving them the time and space to talk, exchange and share and they reported that they took the ideas back to their own projects and engaged a wider community of people.

This success was noted by a major organisation: 

         "The headline is that everyone thought that the workshop was great and valuable, and                 they would love to do it again. Apparently, they came back ‘buzzing’ from it! 

•  Networking and side discussions were the most useful aspects (really reiterates what all know, getting together face to face is so valuable)
• The workshops were really good, only complaint is that they could have kept on discussing the topics for longer!
• It was helpful in reducing the feeling of isolation working on Curlew – interesting perspective here.
• Opportunity to hear from Curlew conservation staff in other countries – particularly around the agri environment schemes they have and the difference that makes (e.g., in the Netherlands).
• Great to hear about the success of different projects, how they are working and their outreach work, and how they have secured funding for their work.
• Learning about new research and innovation (audio recording, AI etc…)

        Having spoken to various people who attended, this has generated lots of internal debate and discussion."

You can read the 2024 workshop report here.

Why are we crowdfunding?

We need money to organise the workshop (6-8th Feb 2026 in the University of Lancaster) and to provide the invaluable follow-up activities afterwards. Meetings like this and the interest they produce are invaluable in underlying long-term and sustainable landscape management, but we need your help to pay for it. 

We are aware that many local project volunteers do not have the resources to attend meetings like this.  We therefore offer discount rates or places for free to those who have so much to contribute but who cannot afford to come without support.  By including as many voices and experiences as possible we can deepen and extend our network. We can only do this with monetary support and for staff follow-up to keep momentum and help with networks and information. 

All Curlew projects face similar problems, namely intensive farming practices, unsustainable predation, human disturbance, development, climate change and habitat loss. These are complex and often difficult topics, Curlew Action will help bridge divides, share information and promote cooperative working across the UK.

Delegates sharing fieldwork ideas.

Curlew projects are scattered across the country and fieldworkers rarely get a chance to exchange ideas. There is no substitute for people meeting and focussing energy and ideas on what works and how to overcome problems. We know people went away inspired and ready to take more action on the ground. But that inspiration also needs to be continued once back home.

Quotations from the last workshop:

“It was an entirely enjoyable weekend, and I learnt a huge amount, largely by making new Curlew contacts among people from the Curlew world that I hadn't previously met. It has made me rethink Curlew conservation in my area”

“That was a terrific weekend – thank you so much. Awesome line up!"

"Coming away with brain bubbling with conversations – great event.”

How we’ll spend the money raised

Any donations we receive will allow us to host the weekend, but they will also pay for post-event activities such as disseminating findings, creating an interactive map of projects, education packs and fact sheets. We will link local projects to the wider research network on biodiversity and climate and keep people in touch and informed through newsletters and webinars. Curlew Action produces a newsletter every 2 months and hosts 10 webinars on major climate and biodiversity issues every year. All of this requires support for the charity.

Key costs include:

Hire of rooms, food and accommodation at Lancaster University.

Travel expenses for invited speakers.

Photographer/videographer for the event.

Buses to take people on a field trip.

Entertainment for the Saturday evening to help people relax and network.

A bursary to help those who cannot afford to travel to the workshop.

Staff costs for organising and planning the event and for follow-up afterwards.

Money for follow-on webinars, newsletters and an interactive map.

How you can help

There are three simple ways to get involved and support our project:

1. Make a donation

Every pledge gets us closer to our goal. Early support can help build momentum and inspire others to give too.

2. Spread the word

Share our support for Curlews with friends, family and your wider network. The more people know about their plight and what is being done to help them, the more they will be inspired to get involved in helping nature and mitigating climate change in their local area. 

Awards available for donations

Our rewards:

Mini ceramic Curlew, 5-6 cm tall

Mini curlew and Curlew Moon

Large curlew, 17.5cm tall and 30cm from beak to tail.

A pair of curlew socks in green or purple, and a mini Curlew

A signed copy of Curlew Moon and a pair of Curlew Socks

A watchful Curlew signed by by artist Liz Toole. 8x12 inches - 20.3x30.5 cm

"Growth" by Liz Toole - hoping for growth in rural landscapes, A4 size (8.3x11.7 inches, 21x29.7cm)

A majestic "Knight of Feathers" by Liz Toole, 12x12 inches, 30.5x30.5cm

'Curlew 1' (above) - a beautiful giclée high quality reproduction print by Alex Parker, Eyvi Studio. Alex has written a blog about the creation of the Curlew prints here.

'Curlew 2' (above) - a beautiful giclée high quality reproduction print by Alex Parker, Eyvi Studio. Alex has written a blog about the creation of the Curlew prints here.

'Curlew 3' (above) - a beautiful giclée high quality reproduction print by Alex Parker, Eyvi Studio. Alex has written a blog about the creation of the Curlew prints here.

*Brand New* embroidered Curlew Action beanie hat - not yet available for purchase. Be prepared for winter! Text will be orange so as to show against the black.

This project successfully funded on 13th October 2025