Press release 

Save the birds this winter

The True Cost of Christmas

16 November 2012

Where have all the birds gone this winter?  The UK is a nation of bird lovers – feeding them, watching them and worrying about them - especially if they live in our gardens.

Turkeys tend not to live in gardens, or get fed by kind-hearted bird lovers. In fact in the UK alone, about 10 million turkeys will not make it through the winter, because they will be slaughtered for festive feasting.  Farmed turkeys are normally killed between 9 and 24 weeks old - while wild turkeys naturally live to around 10 years.

Each year bird lovers look forward to the return of thousands of wintering geese to UK shores.  At the same time cooks rush to rustle up roast potatoes basted in goose fat. Around 15 million geese and ducks were killed in the UK in 2011 for their meat, fat and feathers.

Liz O’Neill, Head of Communications at the Vegetarian Society said, “For a nation of bird lovers we don’t really do a good job of saving the birds.  It’s time the UK looked at the true cost of Christmas and realised that a delicious festive feast needn’t cause any harm coming to our feathered friends. Visit www.costofchristmas.org to find out more about the plight of animals at Christmas.”

Ends

Notes to editor 

• For more press information on a veggie Christmas or the True Cost of Christmas please contact Su or Liz on 0161 925 2012/2013 email su@vegsoc.org  or liz@vegsoc.org , mobile 07973 108 165/7.
• Recipes and images are available by contacting Su in the press office.
• Download the full True Cost of Christmas report at www.costofchristmas.org
• Our brand new festive pages are at www.veggiechristmas.org