A celebration of the curlew through original artwork, photography, poetry, sculpture and conservation.

Cry of the Curlew celebrates the return of these iconic birds to upland habitats for the breeding season – as they have done since time immemorial. Their soul-stirring plaintive cries fill the air while they are with us, and we feel their absence when silently they depart. The exhibition explores the meanings we ascribe to having such beauty in our lives and in these times. It also explores what we shall lose of ourselves if or when these ground-nesting birds disappear forever from our lives.

The beauty and fragility of Curlews is highlighted through the stunning photography of Paco Valera and insightful prose-poetry by Barbara Murray. Inspiring artwork is on display by Sally Zaranko, Hester Cox, Judith Bromley, and Robert Nicholls, alongside the wire sculptures of Stephanie Smith. Swedish artists Emily Berry Mennerdahl and Jonas Böttern of Hillside Projects present work symbolising ecological collapse.

A video and soundscape by June Gersten-Roberts features interviews with farmers on sustainability, along with Alastair McIntosh’s poem, Extinction, set to the music of Loriana Pauli. A new work by Dr William Titley of In-Situ beautifully maps in watercolour ‘The Curlew Way,’ as part of his Walking with Landscape project.

A display by Curlew Recovery South Lakes will demonstrate the vital work they are doing to protect nests and support the delicate population of these beautiful birds, as well as sharing ways you can get involved.