Reintroduction of Corncrakes to Yorkshire

The Friends of the Lower Derwent Valley Conservation Group have launched an exciting scheme to reintroduce Corncrakes to Yorkshire. The scheme will see a brood of chicks raised and released into the Lower Derwent Valley NNR this September.

Having arrived in May, the chicks have being nurtured with care to equip them for survival in the wild. Mike Jackson, chairman of the group, hailed the project as “both a symbolic and ecological milestone” for the valley.

Efforts to rebuild a sustainable corncrake population will include restoring traditional hay meadows and creating specialised breeding habitats. According to the conservation team, close collaboration with local landowners is key to securing the species’ long-term future.

This tremendous effort comes after East Anglia began their Corncrake reintroduction at WWT Walney where the reserve was asked to host a new release site in 2021. Since then, some 300 Corncrakes have been released into the wild. It is hoped that the population of this charismatic meadow-dweller will increase after these successful releases and with continued conservation efforts of its habitats.