Castle Espie, a prominent wildlife site in Northern Ireland, is transferring its captive bird collection to other Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) sites across the UK. This decision, effective from November, is attributed to a combination of avian influenza, increased difficulties in transporting birds since Brexit, and wider WWT cost-cutting measures.
Alex Lane, Director of Operations at WWT, stated that the captive bird collection has significantly declined, from approximately 500 birds to fewer than 100. She highlighted that Brexit has led to increased red tape and administrative costs for moving birds between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, partly due to diverging post-Brexit biosecurity checks and the requirements of the Windsor Framework.
The site, located in County Down, will also cease its guided school tour programme. SDLP MLA Cara Hunter described the loss of these educational visits as "disappointing," expressing concern that it could reduce access to environmental education for schools, particularly those with limited resources. WWT cited financial pressures and an insufficient number of schools booking guided tours to cover costs as reasons for ending the formal education offering.
Despite these changes, Lane noted that decommissioning the captive bird collection will allow for more space for wild birds, as the site aims to refocus as a hub for wetland nature conservation.