Don't serve it - save it! Cock of the Woods for Banknote Fame

It started, as many good stories do, in the kitchen....

While planning a seasonal game menu, the Mackaness family stumbled across the Capercaillie — a bird so magnificent, so gloriously named, that it stopped the conversation entirely. 

Often described as a flamboyant cross between a turkey and a peacock, the Capercaillie also known, rather brilliantly, as the cock of the woods once thrived in Britain's ancient forests. It disappeared from these shores around the time Rudding House was built in the late 1700s. Reintroduced to Scotland in 1837, it is now facing a second extinction.

'It sounded delicious,' a family spokesperson admitted. 'But once we realised how rare it is, we decided to save it, not serve it.'

That decision, it turns out, was just the beginning.

From the menu to the money

In March, the Bank of England announced that UK wildlife would feature on future banknotes — and the Mackaness family have taken the news quite personally.

Having developed a soft spot for Britain's most charmingly named bird, they are now officially championing the Capercaillie for currency stardom. Wildlife experts will shortlist species for a public vote this summer. The family are keeping their fingers crossed.

'Frankly, we're so fond of it we were considering using it as our logo,' the spokesperson added. 'But if our bid succeeds, we hope it finds its way into your wallet instead. On legal tender.'

You may also notice a small update to our Instagram logo today. We're just trying it out.

A bird worth saving

The Capercaillie's story feels, in many ways, like a fitting one for Rudding Park.

The resort sits on what was once the Forest of Knaresborough — a royal hunting ground where Henry VIII's deer roamed freely. A 700-year-old oak tree still stands on the estate today proving that... some things are better saved than served.

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