ENVIRONMENTAL charity Friends of the Dales staged an event in Malham to raise awareness of the endangered curlew.

Although the wading bird, about the same size as a female pheasant, is not an uncommon sight in Craven at this time of the year, it is rarely seen in other parts of the country and is classified in the UK as Red under the Birds of Conservation Concern.

Ahead of World Curlew Day on April 21, the Gargrave based Friends of the Dales staged an awareness event in a field next to the well walked path to Janet's Foss.

Visitors and residents were told how going off paths and dogs running free could mean curlew nests being disturbed and chicks not growing to maturity.

The charity’s creative campaigners, who are all aged between 20 and 30 years old, created16 life-size curlew sculptures made from foraged and recycled wire along with information posters and an online quiz.

Ann Shadrake, the charity's executive director, said: “This event was a real success in raising awareness of how endangered curlew are and the simple things we can all do, like keeping to paths with our dogs on leads, to help them raise their chicks in peace.

"We reached out to around 200 local people and visitors over the day. Our brilliant creative campaigners, trustees and volunteers were supported by Ian Court, wildlife conservation officer for the Yorkshire Dales National Park who was able to share his in-depth knowledge of these beautiful and iconic birds.

"We are also grateful to farmers Neil Heseltine and Leigh Weston for permission to set up the display on their field, and to Dales based artist, Lesley Knevitt who ran a fantastic workshop in March where we all learned how to make curlew sculptures.”

Ann added: “Curlews and all ground nesting birds are incredibly vulnerable from now until the end of July when the young chicks fledge. At a minimum, we need 10,000 more curlew chicks to survive in the UK each year just to halt the dire decline. We know from the responses to our curlew quiz that people love curlew and want to protect them for the future.”

For anyone or organisation wanting to stage their own curlew awareness event, information is available at www.friendsofthedales.org.uk.

Friends of the Dales is also happy to lend out its ‘Campaigning for Curlew Pack’ of wire sculptures and display posters.