Nature reserve safeguards rare bird population

A farm that was turned into a nature reserve 20 years ago has become a 'safe haven' for a rare bird, according to a conservation charity.

Winterbourne Downs nature reserve, near Salisbury in Wiltshire, was created by the RSPB in 2006 to safeguard the Stone-curlew bird and to protect the link between two of the country's largest areas of chalk grassland, the Salisbury Plain and Porton Down.

More than 100 Stone-curlews have successfully fledged since 2006.

Patrick Cashman, RSPB Wiltshire reserves site manager, said the Winterbourne Downs site "showcases what can be achieved if humans have a mind to come together in partnership to make nature a priority."

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There are currently eight breeding pairs at the reserve. There were just two in 2006.

A count will take place on 14 September to determine the full number of birds on the reserve.

Cashman added: "In its 20 years as an RSPB reserve, over 100 Stone-curlews have successfully fledged from Winterbourne Downs, which is an incredible achievement.

"When I first came to the reserve I was impressed and excited by the RSPB's bold vision to create a safe haven for Stone-curlew together with a landscape-scale, nature-rich area of new chalk grassland.

"I knew it would be a huge challenge starting off from a cereal farm with break crops for a productive sheep flock and remember thinking that it would be at least a 20-year project to create anything worthwhile," he added.

A Stone-curlew chick among vegetation at Winterbourne Downs in Wiltshire [RSPB/Andy Hay]

RSPB Winterbourne Downs is also home to special chalkland butterflies such as Adonis Blue and Marsh Fritillary, and rare chalkland wildflowers like Clustered Bellflower and Round-headed Rampion.

Rich Rogers, a Wiltshire councillor for the area said the success "shows us what is possible when we invest in nature for the long-term" and said it was a "real privilege to have this right on our doorsteps".

An Adonis blue at RSPB Winterbourne Downs [Patrick Cashman]

Victoria Arnold is a senior environmental adviser for National Highways, which helped fund the work as part of their biodiversity programme.

She said the Winterbourne Downs initiative is "a glowing example of how this funding can make life better for the environment and communities living near our roads."

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