The Wallingford Red Kite Trail
A wonderful new opportunity to explore Wallingford is just being launched. The Red Kite Trail is a set of life-sized wooden silhouettes around Wallingford. These kites have been painted by local artists, schools and community groups. Following the trail allows everyone to see these amazing designs, learn about the artists, appreciate the town of Wallingford and learn about red kites. The Trail was developed by Wild about Wallingford with support from Wallingford Town Council, funding from South Oxfordshire District Council with materials donated by Colliers Builders Merchants and DIY supplies.
Trail maps are available from the Town Information Centre and downloadable from here. At each kite, QR codes will take you to further information about the nature of red kites, the artists and locations.
Red Kites were historically widespread but brought close to extinction in Tudor times as they were ‘causing a nuisance’. Kites were released in the Chilterns Hills in the 1990s. There are now over 10,000 individuals – it’s the biggest species recovery success story in UK conservation history. Red kites are now part of our everyday lives and a key element of biodiversity in Wallingford. Unfortunately, some residents are feeding kites and the birds are associating people with food. We fear that kites may become a nuisance again, like gulls at the seaside. Please celebrate the wonders of Red Kites with us through these art installations – love kites but don’t feed them.
Image- Chris Smith, Chilterns National Landscape