Page 70 - Discovery Guide

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about the plight of the curlew and its relationship with the communities along its migration route.”
“Patches of rough land within the
urban fringe are important to the local community as a place to connect with nature. In Colne, the community united to oppose the planning application and the strength of feeling was clear at the Pendle Council planning meeting where the application was considered.
“Access to spaces like this on their doorstep is vital for people who aren’t able to jump in a car to enjoy more rural environments like the Forest of Bowland and the presence of nesting curlews is testament to the value of these natural assets for biodiversity, recreation and wellbeing.
William, who recently completed a PhD at Manchester School of Art, resolved to walk from Colne to Cockerham on the edge of Morecambe Bay, where large numbers of curlew over-winter on the
www.forestof bowland.com
coast. He was joined by six fellow artists along the way and conducted a series of interviews with people along the route.
The majority of the route – which William divided into seven stages – traversed the Forest of Bowland, where the curlew population remains healthy. But across the rest of England, curlew numbers have declined steeply in recent years – as the rough pastures where they breed have become more intensively managed for agriculture.
Curlew are ground-nesting birds who lay eggs and rear their chicks entirely on the ground. This makes them vulnerable to predation by gulls, crows or foxes and also to accidental trampling by livestock. They like damp ground with rush cover, as this allows them to use their long bill to prize grubs and insects from the soil.
Since 2015, the curlew has been a ‘Red List’ species – indicating serious cause for concern over the population.