Trio of conservation awards for Moorland Association estates

And finally more good news and this one's local to the CJS Office, Egton is just across the valley from us

Trio of conservation awards for Moorland Association estates - Moorland Association

Three Moorland Association estates – Swinton, Egton and Coverhead – have won prestigious ‘Life on Land’ awards for their conservation work benefiting rare birds.

The ‘Life on Land’ awards from RedList Revival are presented to landholdings exceeding the top 1 per cent in the UK for abundance of a key species. Swinton achieved this for Hen Harriers, Egton for Lapwings, and Coverhead for Black Grouse.

lapwing (green-brown bird with long tufty crest and white chest) on rough grazed grassland — Lapwing on rough grazed grassland (image: pixabay)

Swinton Estate also ranks in the top ten per cent nationally for Curlew abundance. Egton Estate also ranks in the top 1 per cent of landholdings for Curlew, while Coverhead Estate is also in the top 1 per cent for Curlew and Lapwing.

These are all red-listed species, meaning birds of conservation concern, either because their overall population, number of breeding pairs, or territorial range is significantly decreasing.

For non-priority species, Coverhead Estate also has top 1 per cent abundance of Dipper, Golden Plover, Red Grouse and Snipe.

The Awards are presented by Redlist Revival, a charity established nine years ago to identify and promote successful management of priority species and the factors affecting success, with an initial focus on red-listed birds.

By recording data in a consistent format, using standardised criteria endorsed by Natural England, the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and the British Trust for Ornithology, landholders are able to calibrate the performance of habitats and species as part of the UK’s local, national and international commitments.

Mark Cunliffe-Lister of Swinton Estate, Chair of the Moorland Association, said: “We are delighted to see recognition of the work undertaken by estates to help rare birds to survive and thrive. These success stories are underpinned by many years of work and investment by the estates themselves and fostering of collaborative partnerships with other conservation organisations. Practical conservation action in the uplands is a crucial element in boosting England’s biodiversity.”