Home / Environment / Endangered Dove Finds Haven in Cambridgeshire
Endangered Dove Finds Haven in Cambridgeshire
14 May
Summary
- Turtle dove's return signals hope for endangered UK population.
- Maxey Cut is a restored gravel quarry offering vital habitats.
- Conservation efforts aid species like sea trout and eels.
The distinctive purr of the turtle dove has returned to the Maxey Cut in Cambridgeshire, offering a glimmer of hope for this critically endangered species. The bird, having completed a perilous 3,000-mile journey from West Africa, has found refuge in this old flood-relief channel.
Completed 70 years ago, the Maxey Cut protects fen-edge towns from flooding. Its restoration after gravel quarrying has created a rich mosaic of flowery grassland, reedbeds, and open water, a haven for diverse wildlife.
This habitat is crucial as the UK's turtle dove population has declined by approximately 99% since the 1960s. Supplementary feeding schemes, supported by Operation Turtle Dove, are actively enhancing breeding success.
Furthermore, the Environment Agency's sensitive management of the river has benefited other threatened species, including sea trout and common eels. A new interpretive trail now allows visitors to experience the unique wildlife of the Maxey Cut and, with luck, hear the rare purr.
