Charity o th month
Each issue we find out more about one of the good causes you could help out with your knitting…
Sarah Sanders, Curlew Recovery Programme Manager Charity Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
Established 1889
What do you do? I manage the curlew recovery programme which involves leading work to improve the conservation prospects for these amazing birds. Curlews are in serious trouble across the UK, with their breeding populations having almost halved since the 1990s – mainly because they can’t produce chicks. This is caused by the predation of nests and a reduction in availability of quality nesting sites. One of the first steps in any campaign is to raise public awareness of the problem. The more people who know and care about curlews, the better chance we have of success!
What can we do to help? We’re working hard to help curlews in a number of ways and building public support gives us more chances to save them. Something as straightforward as downloading our knitting pattern, making a curlew hat and wearing it means you are helping our cause, so thank you! Taking a selfie wearing the hat and sharing it on social media will help us even more! Becoming a member of the RSPB or donating is another huge way to support us and ensure we can carry out all the vital nature conservation work we do.
Latest fundraising news The knitting pattern was kindly designed for us by Linda Shearer from the Shetland Guild of Spinners, Knitters, Weavers and Dyers to support the RSPB’s curlew campaign. Shetland is one of the remaining hotspots for curlews, known locally as ‘whaaps’. They are still a common sight and come back to the island to breed between April and July each year. Our aim is to help increase their numbers not just here, but throughout the UK!
Contact details:
Website www.rspb.org.uk
Social media Twitter @Natures_Voice, Facebook @RSPBLoveNature and Instagram: @rspb_love_nature