There will be no 12 Days of Christmas if we lose the turtle dove | Catherine Bearder

Without action to protect this treasured bird, it will disappear from the UK altogether within the next decade, writes Catherine Bearder

The turtle dove has long been a symbol of Christmas and the loving bonds that bring us together at this time of year. But now the 12 Days of Christmas risks becoming 11, as the iconic species comes increasingly under threat.

The bird's distinctive, purring call was once a common feature of the British countryside. Now it has become increasingly rare as the birds are confined to ever-shrinking patches of East Anglia and the south-east. The latest figures show that we have lost a shocking nine in 10 turtle doves in the UK since 1970.