THE

UPPER ONNY

WILDLIFE GROUP

LAPWING, CURLEW & OTHER BREEDING BIRDS

IN THE UPPER ONNY VALLEY

Summary of the Survey Results 2004

The Upper Onny Wildlife Group carried out a Breeding Bird Survey in 2004, concentrating on Curlew and Lapwing. It covered a total area of about 122 square kilometres, primarily within the parishes of Ratlinghope, Wentnor, Norbury, Myndtown, More and Lydham. Most of this area is within the Shropshire Hills Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and the Shropshire Hills Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA).

Both Curlew and Lapwing have declined substantially in this area in recent times, and very few breeding pairs were found by the Survey, or during intensive follow-up work commissioned by the Group

• 24 pairs of Curlew (18 within the designated AONB and ESA boundaries)
• 19 pairs of Lapwing (only 10 within the designated AONB and ESA boundaries, five of which were on one Farm)

For Curlew, several pairs had already failed by mid-June. Although the Survey was not carried out at the best time to assess it, the level of breeding success appears to be low, and insufficient to halt, let alone reverse, the decline. The breeding density is also relatively low, and Curlew are now found only in areas of wet pasture, where emergent springs have enabled soft rushes to remain.

For Lapwing, a detailed Survey found very poor breeding success. More than a third of all pairs (seven out of 19 – 36.8%) did not produce any chicks at all (nests were lost to agricultural activities or predation), and almost one-fifth of all broods (two out of 12 – 16.7%) were destroyed by agricultural activity.

The number of chicks and fledged young found appears to be insufficient to sustain even the existing small remnant population, and both species are likely to become extinct in the next decade unless action is taken to improve breeding success, and increase the area of suitable habitat.

Curlew and Lapwing are both in serious decline in the rest of Shropshire , and nationally. Within living memory, there were many more of them in the Upper Onny area.

A full Report of the 2004 Survey Results has been prepared. The Group wishes to reverse the decline of these species in the Upper Onny Valley . The Report therefore includes an analysis of the reasons for it, and makes proposals to increase the area of suitable habitat, and improve breeding success. It outlines a Programme Of Action for work with farmers and landowners to achieve this result, and makes recommendations to the Government’s Department Of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and other organisations active in the area, to facilitate this work.

Lapwing is a priority Target Species for conservation in the Shropshire Biodiversity Action Plan, and it is one of the Farmland birds which DEFRA is committed to supporting. The Shropshire Hills Management Plan 2004-2009 lists Lapwing as an “Ecological Asset”, and states “habitats should be managed to maintain buoyant populations”.

Curlew is also likely to become a priority for support when arrangements are announced for DEFRA’s new Environmental Stewardship Scheme in 2005 onwards.

The Group therefore intends to work with farmers and landowners to maintain and increase the number of Curlew and Lapwing in the Upper Onny valley, and invites other local people, and Community, Regional and National Organisations, to participate in a Programme Of Action to achieve this important objective.

John Muller, Chairman, Upper Onny Wildlife Group - September 2004

The Upper Onny Wildlife Group

The Upper Onny Wildlife Group has been formed to work within the local community to find out more about the local populations of Lapwings, Curlews, Skylarks and other wildlife species, and to help in their conservation. It was set up in November 2003 as a result of the Down To Earth public meetings and other consultations, organised by the Blue Remembered Hills Project.

The Group covers the parishes of Ratlinghope, Wentnor, Norbury, Myndtown, More and Lydham. It now has around 30 members, who are all local people who live or work in the area.

The Group’s first Objective was to establish the number of Lapwing and Curlew in the Upper Onny valley, and the 2004 Report describes the survey undertaken to do this. 

New members, and participants in future fieldwork, are much needed and very welcome. Advice and training support will be provided if necessary.

Further information, and a copy of the full report, can be obtained from 

Ann Remfry, Belmore Farm, Ratlinghope SY5 0SR (Tel: 01588 650623)

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