THE plight of the creature that is the subject of one of the UK’s most pressing bird conservation priorities will come under the spotlight next month.

Bolton Castle in Wensleydale is preparing to host its Curlew Festival for a second year running from June 8 to 10.

The UK breeding population has declined by 62 per cent since 1969 and they are are "red-listed" in the UK. Internationally, curlew are classified as "near threatened".

There are reckoned to be 68,000 pairs in this country representing 25 per cent of the world’s breeding population.

The festival will include a range of family friendly activities from guided curlew safaris and photography to curlew art exhibitions and musical activities for those with an interest in learning more about the iconic wading bird.

The weekend is being organised by a number lof people including Bolton Castle’s Tom Orde-Powlett who said: “The plight of the curlew in the UK and globally is a major conservation concern.

"More than a quarter of the world’s breeding pairs are based in the UK, meaning the conservation efforts undertaken in the UK will have a significant impact on the future of the species globally.”

He added: "Visitors will be able to see first-hand one of the remaining strongholds of curlews in the UK and learn more about the wide-ranging conservation efforts underway to alleviate the plight of the largest European wading bird.”

For more information on the festival visit boltoncastle.co.uk/tc-events/curlew-festival-8th-10th-june/