Saving the Summer Wine birds

Sep 19 2001 By The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Last Of The Summer Wine actor Frank Thornton is backing a drive to save Holme Valley birds.

He launched an RSPB report today charting progress on the charity's year-old Last Of The Summer Waders campaign.

Conservation officers based in Denby Dale have been teaming up with farmers, schools and community groups in a bid to give birds such as lapwings, redshank, snipe, curlews and twites a brighter future.

Mr Thornton, pictured in Jackson Bridge during a break from filming the hit BBC TV show, was well known as Captain Peacock in the 1970s sitcom Are You Being Served?

His role of Truly in Last Of The Summer Wine has brought him into close contact with Yorkshire's countryside for the first time.

He said: "I'm not a twitcher but I've always been interested in birds and I am a life member of the RSPB.

"As a touring actor I have travelled all over the world, to Australia and America, and seen all kinds of bird life.

"But before I joined the Last Of The Summer Wine cast I had never experienced the wonderful countryside around here."

Four farmers have applied for Government grants to manage land for the benefit of wildlife, with help from the RSPB, under the scheme.

Another two applications are being prepared.

Tim Melling, RSPB conservation officer, said:

"Farmers will swap intensive agricultural practices for measures such as low-level grazing, creation of ponds and managing of hay meadows to provide a better environment for wildlife."

The initiative is centring on Hepworth, Scholes, Hade Edge and Cartworth Moor.