Two lapwing chicks have been observed at a hidden nature reserve in Derby, following work to create new habitats at the site. Environmental consultancy Cura Terrae, which collaborated with Derby City Council on the reserve, reported seeing the fledgling lapwings.
Over the winter, the site, known as the Sanctuary Bird and Wildlife Reserve, was developed into a breeding area for ground-nesting birds. This work included creating lapwing plots with short vegetation and bare ground, gravel areas for plovers, permanent water pools, and wader scrapes.
The RSPB states that lapwing numbers in the UK have decreased by 55% since the 1960s, partly due to agricultural changes. The species holds a "red" conservation status, indicating a rapid population decline of 50% or more.
Iain Weston, head of habitats at Cura Terrae, highlighted the urgency of such initiatives given the decline of ground-nesting and wading birds across the UK. Ndukwe Onuoha, Derby City Council's cabinet member for streetpride, parks and leisure, described the project as creating a vital urban refuge for threatened bird species.