Planning for an online Hen Harrier Day

An online Hen Harrier Day for 2020

In January I told you about plans for Hen Harrier Day in 2020.  These were going along swimmingly until Covid-19 came along. There were plans for Hen Harrier Days in all the countries of the UK, ten events in all with more in the pipeline. There were some great speakers lined up and a variety of different kinds of event planned. Many of us would have been able to attend one without a huge drive and there were plans to plug some of the gaps.

Well all of that is still true, but as the weeks go by the prospect of events having to be cancelled or postponed increases. Many larger sporting and cultural events in August have already been cancelled but Hen Harrier Days are smaller and the risks are lower. Hen Harrier Action, the new charity supporting Hen Harrier Days, tell me that early next month is likely to be the decision point. By that time (who knows) there may be a government ‘road map’ for life after lockdown. Guided by that, the organisers of local Hen Harrier Days will be making their decisions in early June on whether or not to go ahead. Different events may face different choices depending on size, location and the nature of the event so it may be that some have to be cancelled or postponed whilst others go ahead.

Meanwhile, Hen Harrier Action have been developing plans for an online Hen Harrier Day. The RSPB have signed up to help, and there are some great people on the team. Gill Lewis, the children’s author is helping to engage children and others and Ruth Peacey the wildlife film-maker and producer will be taking on the terrifying task of pulling everything together for the day. There will be live action, lots of interaction, contributions from leading figures in conservation and other fields and as much community activity and engagement as possible. It will have much in common with previous ‘actual’ Hen Harrier Days but an online event creates both new and exciting challenges and great scope to reach new and wider audiences.

Hen Harrier Action will be in touch with a fair few people over the coming days asking for contributions (thoughts, ideas, videos, poems, everything) or help with organising community or other activities.) But please don’t wait to be asked, you’re a talented bunch and I’m sure you’ll have many ideas for things to do or ways you can contribute that no one has yet come up with. Together, we can make this a real game-changer as well as lots of fun, so don’t hold back.

So let’s have your ideas, either as comments below or else please email me or Alan Cranston at alan.cranston@gmail. com. Please chip in your ideas, however sketchy, this week. 

You can read more about Hen Harrier Days and Hen Harrier Action at the website here.

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