The Cornish Chough, or Palores in Cornish, is a member of the crow family. It is most recognisable for its distinctive bright red legs and long red bill. The bird has had a close association with the county for several hundred years. To much sadness for many residents of Cornwall, the Chough gradually disappeared over time, and by 1974 there were no Choughs left in Cornwall.

This programme contains poetry and stories inspired by the Chough, and features a collection of Cornish voices, including bird experts, writers and members of the community.

New Storytellers presents the work of new radio and audio producers, and this series features the five winners of the 2020 Charles Parker Prize for the Best Student Radio Feature. The award is presented every year in memory of pioneering radio producer Charles Parker, who produced the famous series of Radio Ballads with Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger.

Palores: the Bird of Cornwall was produced by Gabriel Green, who graduated from the University of Westminster last year. The competition judges praised his feature’s “lovely combination of the metaphysical, literary, personal memory and experience and history and place - a very mature piece of work”.

Producer: Gabriel Green
A Soundscape production for BBC Radio 4 Show less