Denbighshire Children connect support to special Curlew celebration

Pupils are preparing to parade a big helping hand to an under-threat bird

A special parade is set to take place at Chirk Castle on March 14 to “Welcome back the Curlew” and raise awareness of the importance of protecting the animal and their habitats.

Clwydian Range and Dee valley National Landscapes is taking part in the project “Curlew Connections Wales”, a Curlew Recovery Wales partnership project working with Bannau Brycheiniog and GWCT.

This is under Gylfinir Cymru an all-Wales partnership project that aims to help breeding curlew across the country, including Denbighshire.

Curlews are under severe threat and is ‘Red Listed’ on both the Welsh and UK Birds of Conservation Concern (BoCC). Since the1990’s over 80 percent of the breeding curlew population has been lost across Wales.

A decline in numbers is due to a number of reasons including habitat loss, farming pressures and the impact of predation on the birds.

Work is on to protect the birds across 12 areas in Wales which is funded by Welsh Government through the Heritage Lottery fund (HLF).

Clwydian Range and Dee valley National Landscapes has linked up with the National Trust and Pupils from Ysgol Caer Drewyn, Ysgol Bro Dyfrdwy and Ysgol y Waun to host the “Welcome back the Curlew” parade at the castle ahead of the birds 2025 spring and summer breeding season.

Pupils have been taking part in creativity sessions at school, working with Sam Kenyon the Curlew & People Officer, local artists Ben & Jude, storyteller Fiona Collins and musician Morgan Elwy.

The parade will see the young curlew champions carrying their meadow aloft as Pegi Pyg Hir, a giant Curlew, travels with the children to the Castle.

Sam explained: “Pegi is seeking sanctuary and somewhere safe to lay her eggs, and as the children’s parade makes its way along, they’ll see a safe space to make a nest. The parade and nesting activity will be accompanied both by music and that culturally important call of the Curlew, that so many of us love to hear across our working landscapes.”

The pupils will also take part in a Curlew song with Morgan Elwy and a story telling session with Fiona Collins.

Sam added: “We are really grateful lo the National Trust for hosting this event at Chirk Castle as it promises to be a fun and heart-warming celebration of the Curlew thanks to the brilliant efforts of the pupils and the great support of the schools and artists involved as well.”

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Biodiversity Champion, said: “This is a very important project for a bird that was once a popular sight not just in Denbighshire and North Wales but across the whole of the UK. We are grateful to the National Trust for allowing such a great venue to highlight this important animal and to the fantastic pupils and artists for all their hard work that has gone in to preparing for this big day.”