The golden plover is just a little smaller than the lapwing, with which it often gathers in large numbers on farmland and coastal flats during the winter. In summer it is found in upland moorland habitats where it breeds from May to September.
Golden plovers are under threat from changes in land use and farming practices. Local Wildlife Trusts across the country are looking after wetland and moorland habitats for the benefit of birds like plovers. Ensuring breeding birds are not disturbed, wetland and moorland nature reserves are well-managed and farmers use wildlife-friendly farming practices are just some of the ways we're helping. You can help too: volunteer for The Wildlife Trusts and you could be involved in everything from clearing scrub to monitoring populations or raising awareness about nesting birds. And don't forget to keep dogs on leads in areas where ground-nesting birds are breeding.