Project Godwit is a partnership between the RSPB and WWT with major funding from the EU LIFE Nature Programme, HSBC, Natural England and the Heritage Lottery Fund. The project aims to secure the future of black-tailed godwits in the UK.

Project Godwit focuses on two wetlands in the east of England – the Ouse and Nene Washes - where conservationists are growing the black-tailed godwit population by enhancing ideal habitat, trialling methods to increase productivity, improving understanding of local and migratory movements, rearing and releasing godwit chicks and increasing support among local communities.

The UK is home to a small breeding population of black-tailed godwits of around 60 pairs. Because of their vulnerable population, these large wading birds are red-listed in the UK and possess Near Threatened status globally, meaning they are likely to be threatened with extinction in the near future.

Historically, numbers of breeding black-tailed godwits in the UK declined drastically at the beginning of the 19th century, to the point where they became extinct as breeding birds. This was probably as a result of the draining of natural wetlands and hunting.

After an absence of more than a century, however, black-tailed godwits of the limosa subspecies returned to breed in England. In recent years, this breeding population has continued to be affected by increased flooding in the spring and summer and predation, both of which can result in the loss of nests and chicks.