Did you know the tiny Wren is now Amber-listed, while the once familiar Skylark has fallen onto the UK Red List?
Anyone who has visited the distillery will know Hugh’s passion for the natural world runs through everything we do. Distillery tours rarely focus solely on spirits. They explore the surrounding chalk landscape, the flora and fauna that shape our recipes, and the growing distillery garden designed to support biodiversity, pollinators, and native wildlife.
The latest Birds of Conservation Concern report has again highlighted the scale of decline across Britain’s bird populations. Often referred to as the bird world’s “Red List”, the report assesses 246 species against criteria including population trends, rarity, breeding success, and international importance.
The results are deeply concerning. Seventy species now sit on the Red List, while 126 species are Amber-listed. Birds once considered common countryside sights are disappearing from large parts of Britain due to habitat loss, agricultural intensification, climate pressures, and disease. The song of the Skylark, the chatter of the Corn Bunting, and the flash of the Greenfinch are becoming increasingly scarce across the wider landscape.
Against this backdrop, the distillery’s rewilding work has become even more important. Through reduced mowing, native planting, juniper restoration, wildflower growth, and habitat creation, the site now welcomes five Red-listed and seven Amber-listed bird species throughout the year.
Each species acts as a living indicator of ecosystem health. Their return reminds us that even small areas managed thoughtfully can help support Britain’s struggling wildlife.
| Red List | Amber List |
| Corn Bunting | Bull Finch |
| Green Finch | Dunnock |
| Linnet | Kestrel |
| Sky Lark | Quail |
| Yellow Hammer | White Throat |
| Wood pigeon | |
| Wren |
