Latest news with #GWCT
Scotsman
10 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Rare Scottish dog breeds steal the show at this year's Scottish Game Fair
Bark by popular demand, the Gordon Setter Parade returns on Saturday, July 5 as part of the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) Scottish Game Fair, held at the stunning Scone Palace in Perthshire. But this year, there's even more to wag your tail about with three rare Scottish dog breeds coming together in a spectacular celebration of heritage and hounds. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Caledonian Dandie Dinmonts will gather on Friday, July 4 and the Scottish Deerhounds will gather on Sunday, July 6 for the first time in event history with brand-new parades. The three breeds are being recognised for their deep roots in Scottish history and their increasingly rare and endangered status. Together, they will showcase Scotland's rich canine traditions and the importance of conserving the dogs for future generations. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Gordon Setters, known for their silky black and tan coats and gentle temperament, are sadly an endangered dog breed. With playful personalities, loyalty and intelligence, these dogs are equally smart and graceful. The meet up, organised by The Gordon Setter Club of Scotland, saw 70 Setters at last year's gathering, and organisers are aiming for 100 this year to raise awareness and admiration for this elegant breed. Scottish Deerhounds, Caledonian Dandie Dinmonts and Gordon Setters photographed at Scone Palace ahead of this year's Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust Scottish Game Fair Caledonian Dandie Dinmonts, instantly recognisable by their long bodies, short legs and distinctive topknots are one of Scotland's oldest terrier breeds. Despite their charm and loyal nature, they are now among the UK's most endangered dog breeds, with just a handful of litters registered each year. The breed served as industrious working dogs and dedicated rodent hunters with their vast speed and their appearance at Scone Palace will be a rare treat for dog lovers. Scottish Deerhounds are majestic, deer-stalking hounds that were once the royal dogs of Scotland. Known for their grace, size and gentle nature, Deerhounds played a vital role in Scottish history and were originally bred to hunt wild red deer. This exceptional breed is dropping in numbers due to the reduced demand for working dogs, and passionate owners have been working hard to revive the breed through careful breeding and preservation. Their presence at the Scottish Game Fair will offer a unique glimpse into Scotland's noble canine heritage. The three parades hope to encourage families to consider the beloved breeds when choosing a canine companion. With stunning surroundings, lively events, and a gathering of some of the rarest dogs in the UK, the Scottish Game Fair promises a paw-sitively unforgettable experience for all ages.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Curlew chicks hatch in Kent conservation project
A Kent nature reserve is playing a key role in efforts to revive southern England's dwindling curlew population. Thirty-nine chicks have successfully hatched and are being raised in captivity as part of a project to save one of Britain's most iconic wading birds from local extinction. The chicks, hatched from eggs collected in northern England, are being cared for at Elmley Nature Reserve on the Isle of Sheppey. They are due to be released into the wild later this summer. Curlews, easily recognised by their long, down-curved bills and haunting calls, are Europe's largest wading birds. They nest on the ground and are typically seen feeding on tidal mudflats and salt marshes. Populations in southern England have plummeted in recent decades due, it is thought, to habitat loss and high numbers of predators such as foxes. Reserve manager Gareth Fulton said: "The reason for the project is that curlews in southern England, basically everything south of Birmingham, are down to about the last 200 pairs and they need to produce more chicks per year to sustain their population. "So they're going to go extinct here in 20 years if no one does anything." Elmley is one of three sites involved in the South of England Curlew Project supported by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT). They have officially been granted a licence from Natural England to receive and rear curlew eggs. Mr Fulton said they are working closely with experts in the Yorkshire Dales, where the curlew population is healthier. They identify where nests have been made in vulnerable locations, such as near a footpath or in fields that will be cut for grass before the chicks are ready. He said: "The experts watch the nests, know when the eggs are laid and know when they're ready to move. "They're incubated in Yorkshire for a few weeks before being brought here." Conservationists believe captive-rearing gives the birds the best chance of survival during their vulnerable early stages. With 3,300 acres of wet grassland and meadows, alongside salt marsh and mudflats of the River Swale, Elmley offers a protected environment for the birds to thrive. Curlews typically breed in the same area where they themselves were raised. Therefore, the hope is the chicks will return to breed at the reserve when they are mature. With this being the third year of the project, conservationists are looking out for returning birds and hopefully nests in 2026. Man sets off on 53-mile walk dressed as a curlew Conservationists hand-rear endangered birds Elmley Nature Reserve Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Curlew chicks hatch in Kent conservation project
A Kent nature reserve is playing a key role in efforts to revive southern England's dwindling curlew population. Thirty-nine chicks have successfully hatched and are being raised in captivity as part of a project to save one of Britain's most iconic wading birds from local extinction. The chicks, hatched from eggs collected in northern England, are being cared for at Elmley Nature Reserve on the Isle of Sheppey. They are due to be released into the wild later this summer. Curlews, easily recognised by their long, down-curved bills and haunting calls, are Europe's largest wading birds. They nest on the ground and are typically seen feeding on tidal mudflats and salt marshes. Populations in southern England have plummeted in recent decades due, it is thought, to habitat loss and high numbers of predators such as foxes. Reserve manager Gareth Fulton said: "The reason for the project is that curlews in southern England, basically everything south of Birmingham, are down to about the last 200 pairs and they need to produce more chicks per year to sustain their population. "So they're going to go extinct here in 20 years if no one does anything." Elmley is one of three sites involved in the South of England Curlew Project supported by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT). They have officially been granted a licence from Natural England to receive and rear curlew eggs. Mr Fulton said they are working closely with experts in the Yorkshire Dales, where the curlew population is healthier. They identify where nests have been made in vulnerable locations, such as near a footpath or in fields that will be cut for grass before the chicks are ready. He said: "The experts watch the nests, know when the eggs are laid and know when they're ready to move. "They're incubated in Yorkshire for a few weeks before being brought here." Conservationists believe captive-rearing gives the birds the best chance of survival during their vulnerable early stages. With 3,300 acres of wet grassland and meadows, alongside salt marsh and mudflats of the River Swale, Elmley offers a protected environment for the birds to thrive. Curlews typically breed in the same area where they themselves were raised. Therefore, the hope is the chicks will return to breed at the reserve when they are mature. With this being the third year of the project, conservationists are looking out for returning birds and hopefully nests in 2026. Man sets off on 53-mile walk dressed as a curlew Conservationists hand-rear endangered birds Elmley Nature Reserve Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust
BBC News
29-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Curlew chicks hatch in Kent conservation project
A Kent nature reserve is playing a key role in efforts to revive southern England's dwindling curlew chicks have successfully hatched and are being raised in captivity as part of a project to save one of Britain's most iconic wading birds from local chicks, hatched from eggs collected in northern England, are being cared for at Elmley Nature Reserve on the Isle of Sheppey. They are due to be released into the wild later this summer. Curlews, easily recognised by their long, down-curved bills and haunting calls, are Europe's largest wading birds. They nest on the ground and are typically seen feeding on tidal mudflats and salt in southern England have plummeted in recent decades due, it is thought, to habitat loss and high numbers of predators such as manager Gareth Fulton said: "The reason for the project is that curlews in southern England, basically everything south of Birmingham, are down to about the last 200 pairs and they need to produce more chicks per year to sustain their population. "So they're going to go extinct here in 20 years if no one does anything." Elmley is one of three sites involved in the South of England Curlew Project supported by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT). They have officially been granted a licence from Natural England to receive and rear curlew eggs. Mr Fulton said they are working closely with experts in the Yorkshire Dales, where the curlew population is healthier. They identify where nests have been made in vulnerable locations, such as near a footpath or in fields that will be cut for grass before the chicks are said: "The experts watch the nests, know when the eggs are laid and know when they're ready to move. "They're incubated in Yorkshire for a few weeks before being brought here." Conservationists believe captive-rearing gives the birds the best chance of survival during their vulnerable early stages. With 3,300 acres of wet grassland and meadows, alongside salt marsh and mudflats of the River Swale, Elmley offers a protected environment for the birds to thrive. Curlews typically breed in the same area where they themselves were raised. Therefore, the hope is the chicks will return to breed at the reserve when they are mature. With this being the third year of the project, conservationists are looking out for returning birds and hopefully nests in 2026.
