Birdfair: the end as we know it
After consideration of a number of key factors, the Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust has taken the decision to stop running the event, one of the biggest in the birding calendar.
Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust (LRWT) recently announced that it is no longer to run the Birdfair at Rutland Water. In a statement on its website, LRWT commented: “For over 30 years, LRWT, supported by our hard-working staff, volunteers and members, has been proud to run Birdfair, the foremost and internationally renowned birdwatching, wildlife and conservation event.
Working with our co-promoter, the RSPB, we have brought thousands of visitors to Rutland Water NR each August and raised more than £5 million for overseas projects run via the BirdLife International group of charities.
“We are immensely proud of this achievement for global wildlife conservation. After careful consideration of a number of key factors, LRWT has taken the difficult decision to stop running the event.”
LRWT cited four key factors as reasons behind the decision, namely financial risk, business risk, the climate crisis and the longer-term impact on the reserve. Jamie Perry, Head of Engagement for LRWT, explained in the statement: “The global pandemic has had a significant effect on our day-to-day operations as a charity.
Like many other similar institutions, we have seen income streams lost or reduced, with a resultant impact on our financial reserves and thus the delivery of our charitable work. Birdfair operations have contributed to these financial concerns.
“Birdfair proceeds have always been donated in full to BirdLife International. LRWT has never received any part of this, but we have nevertheless borne 100% of the risks and liabilities, and have supplied the staff and volunteer effort of running the event. This is a significant burden for any organisation, let alone a small, local charity such as ourselves.”
The move has generated a mixed reaction in birding and conservation circles. Many regulars are mourning the decision to end the world’s premier birding festival. However, there was a growing feeling that Birdfair would need to evolve in order to make it a more sustainable and environmentally friendly event – the collective carbon footprint accrued from exhibitors and visitors attending from 80 countries worldwide was widely acknowledged not to align with the contemporary conservation values of the organisations involved.
Whether this spells the end of Birdfair on a permanent basis remains to be seen, but it is clear that any potential takeover will have to invest significantly in order to make the event a success. The RSPB’s Director of Fundraising and Communications Rebecca Munro commented: “We are currently in discussions about the future of Birdfair brand and how we may be able to play a part in whatever comes next. Over the coming months we will be speaking to others who love Birdfair just as much as we do, in order to understand their views on the future of the event.”
One possible option to tackle Birdfair’s carbon footprint would be to take it online. Organisers produced a ‘Virtual Birdfair’ in 2020, but there was a feeling that this required considerable effort for little financial gain – and financing the event, as well as generating funds for BirdLife, has always been a key part of Birdfair’s core aims.
The last physical Birdfair happened in 2019, when £155,000 was raised for protecting Cambodia’s Western Siem Pang Wildlife Sanctuary and the five Critically Endangered species that occur there. With £322,000 generated in 2018, Birdfair donated in excess of £5 million to BirdLife over its three-decade history. Birdwatch has been a long-time supporter of Birdfair, having donated more than £250,000 to its causes as the publisher of the event’s official programme.
For now, though, the birding world bids adieu to Birdfair. Many will have fond memories of visits to an oftensoggy set of fields on the shores of Rutland Water, where experts shared their knowledge and experiences in the lecture marquees, old friends were reacquainted and new ones made, and many exciting new products were announced over the years. Birdfair will be in many ways irreplaceable. What the future holds for such international events remains open to question. ■