Project Snapshot

Project title:

North East Red Kite Re-Introduction and Education Project

Programme: All
Applicant: RSPB
Grant awarded: £303,500

Once common in the UK, the beautiful red kite was hunted almost to extinction in the 18th century and by 1988 it was one of only three globally threatened species in the UK. Since 1989 a major re-introduction programme has resulted in the establishment of six new red-kite population centres, from north Scotland to south-east England, and the number of breeding pairs currently stands at around 500.

The last phase of reintroduction of the bird in the country is the Northern Kites project in the North East of England, where no kites had been seen for 150 years until 2003. The five-year project started in 2004 and its success so far has exceeded all expectations, with an impressive 94 kites already released. These have all been reintroduced just 20 minutes away from urban areas such as Newcastle and Gateshead, allowing people to get close to these rare and spectacular birds.

‘Northern Kites’ is actively trying to get people involved with the spectacular birds. Viewing sites in Gibside and Derwent Walk Country Park, where path networks suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs already exist, will be clearly sign-posted. People from local communities are getting involved in producing information material and displays about the rare bird designed to appeal to all age-ranges and abilities. And commuters to and from Newcastle can now hop on the Red Kites bus service which takes them past the home of the kites in the Derwent Valley.
Despite the project not having advertised for volunteers, 70 people, some of them working actively on a weekly basis, have given 8,000 hours of their time to the programme since Spring 2004.

North East Red Kite Re-Introduction

Sector

Land and Biodiversity

Activity

Conservation