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New hope for threatened lapwing
lapwing
Lapwings have a "red status" in the UK.

RSPB reports a record breeding year for troubled species

Lapwings have enjoyed a record breeding season, giving conservationists hope for the future of this troubled species.

Many RSPB sites say they have seen a successful breeding season this year. Great Bells Farm in Kent attracted 25 breeding pairs, raising 26 chicks - the number conservationists had hoped for.

RSPB recently finished converting the low-quality farmland at Great Bells to a freshwater nature reserve.

Lapwings have a "red status" in the UK as they are declining at a concerning pace. Numbers have been falling in lowland England since the mid-19th century. In recent years, the species has been threatened by changes in agricultural land use.

Martin Harper, the RSPB's director of conservation said: "In my lifetime the lapwing has gone from a widespread countryside bird to one increasingly confined to nature reserves. It’s challenging to manage land for lapwing, so seeing an increase this year is especially welcome.

"It gives us hope that this engaging species may in time be able to turn a corner as a nesting bird in lowland England, especially if land managers can be encouraged to get the most from wildlife-friendly farming payments."

Lapwings are waders; long-legged birds that typically feed in wet grassland or at water's edge. They are known as "peewits" due to their distinctive call.

Image: Wikimedia Commons/Steve Garvie/CC-BY-2.0

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."