DID HE JUMP OR WAS HE PUSHED? FOUNDER TIM APPLETON 'GUTTED' AT BIRDFAIR DEPARTURE

                                           

Tim Appleton - new projects beckon

A SHAKE-UP at Birdfair has led to the ousting of its popular founder-manager, Tim Appleton, MBE.

Mr Appleton has been at the helm since he launched the event - then known as the British Birdwatching Fair - at Rutland Water, near Stamford, in 1989.

No reasons have been given for the parting of the ways, but it is understood there were behind-the-scenes disagreements with the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust which hosts the fair.

A Trust management decision was then taken that he should be involved no longer at top level.

In recent years, there have been various criticisms about the event - for instance that it has become over-commercialised or that agitators, such as Chris Packham's Wild Justice organisation, have hijacked some of the proceedings for propaganda and fundraising purposes.

Mr Appleton is said to have been "gutted" to have been shown the door but felt proposed new arrangements - including a reduced, if any, role for him - made it "impossible" for him to continue.

His Birdfair email account has been closed, and the website has had its History section removed while it is being re-written.

No successor has been named, and it is understood future responsibilities will be shared by the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust's “Birdfair Team”.

This year's event has been cancelled in the wake of the. coronavirus situation, but it is understood organisers are planning a virtual event for August 18-23.

Mr Appleton, a world authority on wildfowl, has every reason to be proud of what has happened since he set up Birdfair.

Not only has it become the highspot of many bird enthusiasts' social calendar, it has inspired similar smaller-scale events all over the world.

What is more, it has raised some £5-million for a range of some 30 habitat-protection and other eco-friendly initiatives all over the world.

In the wake of his departure, the former supremo has no plans to take things easy or to refocus all his energies on his long held ambition to see every known species of goose and duck  in the world.

He has other global projects up his sleeve - at least one of which could be a headline-maker.

What might they be? For the time being he is staying tight-lipped, but he hopes to make an announcement later this year.