Video: “I would walk 500 miles just to…save the Curlew!”

Published by Dave Brooks on

February 9th 2016

When The Proclaimer’s sang about walking 500 miles in the name of love, a level of hyperbole could safely be assumed. But British radio and TV producer and writer, Mary Colwell, has decided to undertake a 500 mile walk for real, with the aim of raising money and awareness to protect native curlew populations.

The breeding population of these red-listed birds has declined in Ireland by a staggering 90%, and in Wales and the rest of the U.K. by 80% and 50% respectively. While a 2011 study involving Birdwatch Ireland cites factors such as afforestation and commercial peat-cutting in the uplands as potential causes of this drastic fall in numbers, Colwell is determined that the focus of the project will be positive, and that the Curlew can be saved.

Mary will give talks as well as media interviews as she makes her way east from Enniskillen to Dublin, and on to Britain. She is hoping to raise £16 per mile walked, and is appealing to people who live on the route to come to an event, offer her a place to sleep, or just say hello!

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Dave Brooks

Dave works as Communication Assistant with the Environmental Pillar. His background is in psychology and he has a masters in Environmental Psychology from the University of Surrey.