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Bird flu forces farmer to use humans instead of turkeys for historic march

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Nov, 07:01 · Archive

A bird flu lockdown order has forced an Essex farmer to replace his flock with human 'turkeys' for a planned revival of a centuries-old tradition.

An Essex farmer's plan to revive a centuries-old turkey drive has been disrupted by a government bird flu lockdown order issued this week. Paul Kelly had intended to lead 22 of his KellyBronze turkeys across historic Stratford St Mary Bridge on the Suffolk-Essex border on 18 November, dressed as a drover and paying a toll to the nearby Talbooth restaurant owner. Bird flu outbreaks have prompted the nationwide housing order, after millions of birds were culled in recent years.

Kelly is determined to proceed with the event using humans dressed as turkeys instead. The bridge crossing would have revived a tradition spanning centuries, when turkeys fattened on farms in Suffolk and Norfolk were driven down the old A12 to London before Christmas. More than a million turkeys completed this journey over the centuries, with some drovers and their flocks travelling more than 100 miles. To protect the birds' feet during these long drives, drovers either fitted them with tiny boots or dipped their feet in a tar and sand mixture to create a protective crust.

Bird flu forces farmer to use humans instead of turkeys for historic march
Image: East Anglian Daily Times

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How it is being reported

In this story: Paul Kelly · Paul Milsom · Stratford St Mary Bridge · Suffolk · Essex · Talbooth restaurant

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