A NEW partnership has been launched to try and reverse the worrying decline of the Curlew.

Curlew Country and the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) have joined forces after trying to save the wading bird on through projects of their own.

Amanda Perkins, Curlew Country project manager, said: “We are absolutely delighted to announce this partnership.

“Curlew Country’s trail-blazing work on low-ground curlew and GWCT’s Action for Curlew complement each other well and I am looking forward to working even more closely with the GWCT as we have a similar approach to much of our conservation work.

“When we started in 2014, we listened to farmers in the Shropshire Hills and Welsh Borders and work closely with them in the race against time to save curlew.

“GWCT is leading the way in work with farmer clusters delivering wildlife improvements on farmland.”

The new partnership will offer the best available curlew advice to farmers, gamekeepers and others wanting to help.

The 500 people across the UK that provided their curlew nest locations to the GWCT’s Action for Curlew will receive updates on developments.

Nick Williams, GWCT Welsh chairman, said: “Curlew Country is a working example of exactly how we feel conservationists should support farmers in protecting the wildlife that they want. This is why the GWCT set up Action for Curlew earlier this year – to help those on the ground.

“We look forward to supporting Curlew Country to continue its remarkable recent progress.”

Amanda Perkins will continue to lead the Curlew Country Project supported by GWCT director Wales, Sue Evans.