Milton Hide, made up of artists Jim Tipler and Jo Church, who were so captivated by the story of the charismatic corvids that they wrote a song named “The Bloodied Crow” for the pFITE24 music competition. Poetry and Folk in the Environment is a global movement celebrating artists whose work brings music and environmental issues together. The competition gives artists the chance to win £10,000.

The red-billed chough reintroduction is a joint project between the charities Kent Wildlife Trust and Wildwood Trust and supported by Paradise Park in Cornwall.

Choughs have been absent from the wild in Kent for over 200 years due to habitat loss and historical persecution. Yet, this species has retained a deep cultural link throughout Kent's history - these iconic birds can be spotted on pub signs across our county as well as on the Canterbury coat of arms itself.

For four decades, Kent Wildlife Trust has worked alongside others, including the National Trust and White Cliffs Countryside Partnership, to restore chalk grassland habitat and reintroduce conservation grazing management across East Kent. Last year, the project reached a milestone when the first flock of red-billed choughs were released in Dover and the birds are now a regular sight in the area, reaffirming their place in Kent’s landscape once again.

Despite being based in East Sussex the story of the choughs came to the attention of Jim and Jo whilst walking the coastal cliffs of West Wales during one of the band's tours. Here they learned about the mythology surrounding the birds and how they obtained their distinctive bright red beaks and legs from paddling in the blood of Sir Thomas Becket as he lay dying in Canterbury Cathedral.

Jo Church, of Milton Hide said: “We had seen and heard one of the birds on a visit to the coastal cliffs of West Wales, whilst on tour in 2023. A fellow walker told us what it was we were looking at! We are both interested in ecology and our environment. Added to a love of myth and legend the song just seemed to come together.”

After an audience member suggested the idea the pair researched the reintroduction  and began to develop the song whilst on a songwriting retreat in Devon . On top of the factual research on the project, Milton Hide also found inspiration from the website “Operation Chough” which centres on the mythology behind the species.

Jim added: “We are not expert ornithologists it’s fair to say, and struggle to tell one species of corvid from another, but we were completely charmed by this bird when we saw them in West Wales. We love the thought of them being reintroduced to an area that for so many years due to persecution and loss of natural habitat they have been absent from. And when we see how beautiful kites have flourished all over the country in recent years - even in East Sussex now they are often seen - it gives us grounds for hope that in the future man can find ways of living alongside the natural world.”

Jenny Luddington of Kent Wildlife Trust said: “Bringing people closer to nature is fundamental to a successful species reintroduction and we have been overwhelmed by the wonderful art and music that has been inspired by the chough. From murals to art prints and now even a song, not only is this charismatic bird steeped in history, but it is now making its mark on the present and putting down the roots to continue to inspire future generations to come. This is legacy in the making.”

The writing of “The Bloodied Crow” is part of a project Milton Hide has undertaken called “Your Stories in Song.” With the support of The National Lottery, the duo is visiting communities and collecting stories and ideas that people are keen to share, to preserve local tales. Centered on the Sussex Weald, they extend into West Sussex, West Kent, and Surrey. The band has developed a website  where the ideas will be a resource for people to find inspiration for new works. 

You can watch the full rendition of “The Bloodied Crow” on Milton Hide’s website: www.miltonhide.com.