Birds on the Edge.
We are supporting nature and people to thrive together.
We are creating and restoring key habitat, such as ponds, pools and wildflower plots, for critically endangered Turtle Dove, Yellowhammer, Redstart and Song Thrush.
And providing opportunities for people to connect with nature, learn new skills and harness talents through art, play, and hands-on conservation tasks.
Working collaboratively with our partners, as well as with communities, farmers and land managers, we are creating and restoring habitat relied upon for survival by species that live on edge of wood and farmland, such as the critically endangered Turtle Dove, Yellowhammer, Song Thrush, and Redstart.
We are also working with a diverse range of communities and age groups to connect them with nature and the associated health and wellbeing benefits of doing so. We have a particularly strong focus on young people, working to removing barriers and nurture a lifelong love and understanding of nature through meaningful interactions using art, music and play.
Birds on the Edge is a National Lottery Heritage Funded project that supports people and nature within the North York Moors National Park and surrounding areas to thrive together.
Awarded in 2022, the project commenced in January 2023 and will run until October 2026.
We are working with the North York Moors National Park Authority, Howardian Hills National Landscape, North Yorkshire Council, Yorkshire Water, Forestry England, and community production company, ARCADE.
Habitat creation and restoration.
We are creating and restoring key habitat to support bird species that live on the edge of wood and farmland in the North York Moors National Park and Howardian Hills National Landscape.
This includes feeding habitat, such as wildflower plots, and aquatic drinking habitat, such as ponds.
These buzzing hubs of biodiversity are not only beneficial for our target bird species, they support a wide array of other wildlife, including pollinators.
We are working collaboratively with communities, farmers and land managers.
Engagement.
We are engaging with a diverse range of communities within the North York Moors National Park and surrounding areas, particularly children and young people, through art, music, play, and volunteering.
We believe reducing barriers and providing opportunities to connect and access nature have invaluable health, wellbeing and development benefits.
Education.
We connect with 10 local primary schools every year to educate pupils about bird species, their role within our precious our ecosystem, their life and the challenges they face, and the importance of conservation.
As part of the Harry Spotters Challenge, primary schools are provided with binoculars, feeding stations, seed and surveys, with the aim of collecting data on bird species spotted within their school and community.
Pupils will take part in a geocache challenge, connecting them with international schools along the some of the birds migratory routes.
Art, music and theatre.
We are working with students from Scarborough Pupil Referral Unit and Bridlington Youth Theatre to artistic responses to parallels between our bird species and their own lives.
In 2023 students from Scarborough Pupil Referral Unit wrote, recorded and produced music videos in response to the project. Students attended a premier for their work, which also featured at the inaugural Scarborough Film Festival.
This year students have design and created skateboards which featured in the Birds on the Edge exhibition alongside work by local and nationally renowned artists.
Film, music, written word and other art forms help to deepen participants connection with nature heighten the associated health, wellbeing and development benefits.
Make it stand out.
Make it stand out.
Project Lifecycle
Project Budget
Pond and pool creation and restoration
Feeding and nesting habitat creation and restoration
Volunteering
Credit: Stewart Baxter - Birds on the Edge Project
Credit: Matthew Cooper - Birds on the Edge Project
Credit: Matthew Cooper - Birds on the Edge Project
Credit: Anna Bean - Birds on the Edge project
Produced by ARCADE in partnership with the North York Moors Trust.
