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Mission to save willow tit from extinction

Kirk England
BBC South West environment and tourism correspondent
Kevin Bowers A bird - a willow tit - sits on a metal post in a garden. It is mid-brown in colour and the top of its head is black. Bird feeders are in the background. Kevin Bowers
The population of willow tits in Britain has fallen by 94% since 1970, said Natural England

Work is under way in Cornwall to help save a native bird which nature experts have described as "dangerously close to extinction".

The county is one of the last areas in southern England which still has willow tits, according to Natural England (NE).

As part of the project, areas of Goss Moor in mid Cornwall are being managed to create habitat where it is easier for the birds to forage.

Beth Lloyd-Davies, senior reserves manager for Goss Moor National Nature Reserve, said: "The bird is really special. We need to do all we can to protect it."

A woman stands by a small stream, behind her are moss covered tree branches. She is wearing a coat with the logo Natural England.
Beth Lloyd-Davies, senior reserves manager for Goss Moor National Nature Reserve, described the willow tit as a special bird

NE, which is funding the initiative, said the willow tit was believed to be the UK's fastest declining resident bird.

It said only a core population remained on the mid-Cornwall moors Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), particularly Goss Moor and Helman Tor.

NE said the willow tit was:

  • The only British tit species to excavate its own nest holes
  • Timid and sometimes bullied by great tits and blue tits
  • A bird that thrived in wet woodland and scrubland of mixed age
Stumps of willow trees emerge from a wet area of moorland. The trucks have been cut back close to ground level. There are areas of boggy land in the background.
Willow is being cut back at Goss Moor to encourage regrowth and create foraging ground for willow tits

Ian Moye, who is managing the conservation work, said the project included clearing large areas of scrub.

"It's about increasing biodiversity, with more insects and invertebrates," he said.

"It creates a good habitat for willow tits, especially when they are feeding their young."

A birdwatcher is standing in the countryside, with moorland scrub behind him. He is wearing a green waterproof coat and looking through green binoculars.
Peter Roseveare, from Cornwall Birds, has been monitoring willow tit numbers as part of the Cornwall Willow Tit Project

Peter Roseveare, of Cornwall Birds which is also part of the project, said he was optimistic the work would help save the willow tit.

"If we continue to do this work on a habitat wide scale, the bounce back could be pretty quick," he said.

The University of Exeter, Natural England and Cornwall Birds are working with other local groups as part of the project.

Ian Moye/Natural England A close up image of the end a partly rotten tree trunk that is being used as an artificial nest. There are tree trunks and green shrubbery in the background. Ian Moye/Natural England
Natural England said semi-rotten logs and branches were ideal nest sites for willow tits

David Marshall, programme manager at NE, said the focus of its work was nature recovery and inspiring others to manage land in a nature friendly way.

"The habitat restoration is giving the population a real chance to recover," he said.

A Defra spokesperson said the government was committed to protecting and restoring nature, including reversing the decline in species.

"That is why we are investing over £400m into nature's recovery to create habitats for wildlife to thrive and families to enjoy," they said.

"We are also investing £5bn into farming over the next two years – the largest ever directed at sustainable food production and nature recovery in our country's history."

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