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 North York Moors National Park Authority, North Yorkshire Council, Yorkshire Water, Forestry England Howardian Hills AONB, and Arcade.

Birds on the Edge

Working collaboratively with our chosen delivery partners, as well as with communities and land managers, we are creating and restoring habitat used by Turtle Dove, Yellowhammer, Song Thrush, and Redstart, some of whom are threatened species, which live on the edge of wood and farmland.

We are also working with a diverse range of communities and age groups to connect them with nature and all the associated health and wellbeing benefits of doing so. We have a particularly strong focus on young people, working to nurture a lifelong love and understanding of nature and removing barriers to access our natural landscapes.

Habitat creation and restoration.

We are creating and restoring habitat to support birds that live on the edge of wood and farmland in the North York Moors . This includes feeding habitat, such as wildflower plots, and aquatic drinking habitat, such as ponds.

We are working with land managers and communities across the North York Moors identify habitat to further this aim.

Engagement.

We engage with a diverse range of communities within the North York Moors National Park and surrounding areas to access nature and benefit from the associated health and wellbeing benefits.

We particularly focus on those who have had little experience connecting with nature or who face barriers in doing so alone.

Education.

We connect with 10 local primary schools per year to educate pupils about bird species, their role within our precious our ecosystem, and the importance of conservation.

As part of the Harry Spotters Challenge, primary schools will be provided binoculars, 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 birds migratory path.

Art and culture.

Through our engagement with local schools and communities we are creating film which captures the lived experiences of both birds on the edge and our participants.

Film, music, poem and other art form helps to deepen participants connection with nature and associated health and wellbeing benefits.

Project lifecycle

Project budget

Pond and pool habitat creation and restoration

Feeding and nesting habitat creation and restoration

Harry Spotter Bird Watch Challenge

Number of local primary schools engaged with project to date

10

Harry Spotter Bird Watch Challenge

Number of local primary school pupils engaged to date

184

Dawn Chorus Outreach

Number of creative sessions and young people involved

31 sessions and 28 young people

Dawn Chorus Outreach

Number of conservation sessions and young people involved

4 sessions and 17 young people

Volunteer hours generously provided to the project

Project testimonials

“This is the closest to nature I’ve ever been in my life.”

— Student, Scarborough PRU

“To see how much of an impact being immersed in nature has had on the students, their knowledge and confidence, is wonderful.

“I am proud to celebrate the contribution the project is having on helping both young people and birds on the edge to thrive collectively”.

— Director, North York Moors Trust

“She (student) is going through a traumatic time at present and this (Birds on the Edge project) was like a balm to her soul.”

— Pupil Referral Unit Service Teacher

“Each little bird was made by one of our pupils in honour of the North York Moors Birds on the Edge Project which we are very proud to be a part of.”

— Teacher, Goathland Primary School