Giving the gift of hope: How hundreds of farmers and volunteers across South East and Eastern England are helping to save rare Turtle Doves

As 2023 comes to a close, we’re reflecting on the fantastic efforts that have been made this year to support Turtle Dove conservation. Hundreds of UK farmers, landowners and volunteers are helping to give the gift of hope for Turtle Doves, working with Operation Turtle Dove to provide better nesting and feeding habitat for the […]

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Hinterland – Garden

In the final instalment of Jonny Rankin’s series on ‘hinterland’ habitats for turtle doves, he celebrates the garden. Having celebrated scrub and quarry, the last of my hinterland habitats is garden. As a loud and proud turtle dove advocate, I occasionally receive invitations to see turtle doves on people’s land, sometimes even in gardens. On this […]

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Hinterland – Quarry

In the second of his series of blogs celebrating the turtle dove, Jonny Rankin recounts an unforgettable discovery. Just days after my first turtle dove of the year on the forest edge, I took the opportunity to walk around a nature reserve adjacent to a working quarry, looping around the northern edge of the reserve […]

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Hinterland – Scrub

In the first of three blogs about turtle dove habitats, Jonny Rankin celebrates scrub and potentially one of his bird watching highlights of the year. My first turtle dove of the year was adjacent to a beautiful cottage – a cottage deep in thick cover in a section of treed scrub on the forest edge […]

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With a little help from our friends

Jos Ashpole Turtle doves in decline Spring is now certainly on its way. Blossom is starting to appear in our hedgerows and it won’t be long until the wintery greys make way for the vibrant greens and warm yellows of spring and summer. This can mean only one thing – the turtle doves are on […]

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