News

25 - July - 2006Operation Lapwing Champion Announced

Dai Davies, NFU Cymru President will this morning present the RSPB’s 2006 Operation Lapwing Champions Award to Gwynedd farmers, Andy and Hilary Kehoe, at the Royal Welsh Show.

The competition is part of Operation Lapwing, which has been developed by the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) to provide land management advice for farmers to help save this enigmatic farmland bird.  Almost 50 pairs of breeding lapwings have been counted at Morfa Madryn, the Kehoe’s farm near Abergwyngregyn, as a result of their efforts to provide and maintain suitable nesting areas for the birds.

Dai Davies, NFU Cymru President said, “It gives me great pleasure to award Mr and Mrs Kehoe with this prize for their clear commitment to help this declining species from disappearing from our countryside.  NFU Cymru will encourage members during this year’s Royal Welsh Show to learn from the Kehoe’s example and find out more about what they can do to help increase numbers of bird species on their own farms.”

The Kehoes have, over the past year, increased the number of cows grazing their land to provide short grass suitable for lapwings to nest in and have suspended any disruptive work in the fields during nesting time.  They have also introduced three sluices and a solar powered pump to maintain wet conditions on the land, which is most suitable for the adult birds to raise their chicks.

As the Wales winners of the Lapwing Champion competition, the Kehoes will receive £200, donated by Jordans Cereals - sponsors of the competition.  The presentation of the Award will take place during a special breakfast reception at NFU Cymru’s pavilion from 8am on Tuesday, 25 July.  NFU Cymru President, Dai Davies and Dr Tim Stowe, RSPB Cymru Director will do the presentations.

Debbie Scott, RSPB Cymru Farmland Projects Officer said, “Farmers like the Kehoes play a huge part in reversing the decline of some of our most distinctive farmland birds such as lapwings.  The work they have put in to make their farm a lapwing-friendly environment is inspired and will hopefully mean that the birds continue to breed here year after year.”

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Note to Editors: We would be delighted if you were able to send a representative along to the breakfast reception being held at the NFU Cymru pavilion from 8am on the Tuesday of the Royal Welsh Show to see the Kehoes being presented with their prize. This is a perfect photo opportunity and Welsh and English interviewees will be available.
For further information regarding the reception please contact Sarah Jones at NFU Cymru. Tel: 07860 423299, for more information on the Awards please contact Wendy Johnson at RSPB. Tel: 07816 938977.