A NATIONAL Trust site near Pershore is working hard to help keep the ever-dwindling nightingale breeding in its parkland.
Once a common defining sign of spring, the nightingale’s chorus is now rarely heard, but conservation management by rangers at Croome is helping to provide the globally threatened species with the ideal conditions to thrive.
The elusive bird’s numbers are estimated to have dropped by 90 per cent since 1960, due to climate change, farm management and loss of habitat.
Each year the birds fly from tropical Africa to the UK, with Croome being one of the most north westerly places the nightingale breeds.
Croome’s rangers have been creating additional dense cover to protect the ground nesting birds, by coppicing areas of woodland and encouraging thick thorn and bramble scrub to grow to protect them from predators.
Hugh Warwick, Croome’s area ranger, said: “We hope all the hard work to protect the nightingale’s environment will be rewarded with woodlands full of their beautiful song.”
Visitors can join Katherine Alker, Croome’s garden and park manager for a free spring walk on Thursday, April 27 at 11am.
Croome’s park and lakeside are open from 10am to 5.30pm and Croome Court is open from 11am to 4.30pm every day.
Call the National Trust site on 01905 371006 or visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/croome to apply or for more information.
