What the heck is a lek?
Males great bustards perform spectacular courtship displays, gathering at a ‘lek’ or small display ground to try to impress the females.
Menu
Long ago Wiltshire’s cathedral was at Sarum, and the priests had to share space with the castle – and its soldiers. The soldiers had no respect for the clergy. Bishop Poore decided enough was enough and went to the Abbess at Wilton to make her give him land. He was mocked in the street for going begging to the Abbess and resolved to use his own land instead. On the way back to Sarum he chanced across two soldiers having an archery competition. The winner shot his arrow all the way to Merryfield. ‘Mary’s field!’ the Bishop realised. He asked who owned the land and was told it was himself. It was the perfect solution. The new cathedral was completed there by 1258. A new town grew up around it – Salisbury. Some say it was the Bishop himself who shot the arrow, some say it was soldiers, but, whichever it was, the cathedral still stands and Old Sarum – cathedral, castle, and all – is but a ruin.
Males great bustards perform spectacular courtship displays, gathering at a ‘lek’ or small display ground to try to impress the females.
The great bustard has a dignified slow walk but tends to run when disturbed, rather than fly.
The hen-bird on display at The Salisbury Museum was one of the last great bustards to be eaten in the town!