Footpath and bridleway restrictions on the North York Moors may have spin-off benefits for wildlife.
The Moorland Association says that, for the first time in living memory, a curlew has managed to hatch a record brood of five chicks only metres away from what was normally a busy bridlepath.
The nest is on the edge of Spaunton Moor, owned by association committee member, George Winn-Darley and shut to the public since the end of February, because of National Park foot and mouth restrictions.
The chicks, which are three weeks old, have been raised in an area usually prone to disturbance from walkers, dogs, horse riders and cyclists using the
network of footpaths and bridleways.
Wilf Norman, honorary secretary of the South Cleveland
Ringing Group said: "We have been recording and ringing wader chicks on the North York Moors since 1972. In all that time there has never been a successful five-chick brood of curlew."
Updated: 10:36 Friday, June 15, 2001
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