West Norfolk Council backing for Plovers in Peril

An RSPB project working to protect threatened beach-nesting birds has been awarded vital funding to continue its work over five years by West Norfolk Council.

The funding totals to more than £135,000, is a lifeline for Norfolk’s iconic wildlife, including beach nesting bird populations who are a struggling species.

The support rom the borough’s habitats monitoring and mitigation fund will directly benefit the Plovers in Peril project which was launched in spring 2021 to reverse the declines of ringed plovers and oystercatchers, two of the ground-nesting birds which breed on the popular beaches of Snettisham and Heacham South.

Ringed plover project officer Wynona Legg expressed her gratitude for the support given to the wading birds.

She said: “We have been so lucky to have had a dedicated team of volunteers to engage with beach users and gather vital information on how these beaches are used by both nesting birds and people throughout the season.

"Forging stronger links with local communities to find the best ways to help these birds thrive alongside our enjoyment for the coast, we have been helping to connect local people with the wildlife of Norfolk and increase visitor awareness of the challenges these birds face.

"We want to empower local people to be custodians of the wildlife on their local beaches.”

MP for North West Norfolk James Wild has visited the project during nesting season.

He said: "The Norfolk coast holds a large proportion of England’s breeding ringed plovers which are in worrying decline.

"I know from visiting the project that the team work tirelessly to monitor and protect these red-listed birds and I was pleased to support the extension of the project which will hopefully be a catalyst in reversing the population decline.”