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Hen Harriers
Latest news, advice and opinion on Hen Harriers in the UK.


Claws Out Over Project to Boost Hen Harriers: MA Quoted in The Times
The article below appear in The Times on 15th April 2025:
Rob Beeson
6 days ago1 min read

Update: Hen Harrier Conservation Licence 2025
With hen harriers beginning to settle on our moors again we must update you on Natural England’s recent decision regarding our application for a hen harrier conservation licence.
Andrew Gilruth
Apr 142 min read


The Wait Goes On to See if Natural England will Issue a Licence to Continue the Work of the Brood Management Trial
Six months after applying for a licence, we are still waiting to hear if Natural England is interested in continuing the successful trial.
Andrew Gilruth
Apr 33 min read


Report Reveals Key Factors Behind Hen Harrier Recovery
A recently commissioned report by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) for Natural England looked into this puzzle.
Rob Beeson
Mar 195 min read


Hen Harrier Brood Management: An Update
A Natural England-led evaluation of the hen harrier brood management trial has concluded that it is has led to more hen harriers successfull
Andrew Gilruth
Mar 141 min read


Natural England contradicts itself over hen harriers
The moorland communities we represent applaud the mature leadership of Defra which has overseen the extraordinary recovery of hen...
Andrew Gilruth
Dec 18, 20241 min read
Letter to The Guardian regarding the RSPB's bird crime report
The Moorland Association sent the following letter to The Guardian in response to an article published this week about hen harriers. Sir,...
Andrew Gilruth
Oct 25, 20241 min read
Moorland Association takes initiative on hen harriers
The evidence shows that the Defra recovery plan for hen harriers has boosted the species population so much that both of its Special...
Andrew Gilruth
Oct 3, 20242 min read
Moorland Association response to media article on hen harriers
The Moorland Association was approached by BBC North East and Cumbria, ahead of an article which will contain accusations from RSPB that...
Andrew Gilruth
Sep 11, 20241 min read
High rainfall blights bird nesting on the moors
The Moorland Association reports a poor breeding season for moorland birds, including hen harriers, as the exceptionally wet weather has...
Rob Beeson
Jun 26, 20242 min read
RSPB Hen Harrier Survey
The Moorland Association was approached by The Guardian in advance of a report due to be published by RSPB on 11 April which would show...
Rob Beeson
Apr 12, 20241 min read
Hen harriers: what’s happening next?
We are now approaching year seven of the Hen Harrier Brood Management Scheme trial. It stands to reason that, unless Natural England...
Andrew Gilruth
Apr 12, 20243 min read
Hen harrier survival rate nearly double in recovery scheme
Survival rates for hen harriers reared and released through an innovative scheme to help the recovery of the species are better than for...
Rob Beeson
Nov 21, 20234 min read
Record high for hen harrier population in England
Figures released today by Natural England show another rise in the population of Hen Harriers in England, with 141 chicks fledging...
Rob Beeson
Sep 16, 20233 min read
Hen harrier project celebrates huge rise in chicks taking to the wing
A pioneering trial set up to help rebuild the population of the endangered Hen Harrier in England has reared and released 24 chicks this...
Rob Beeson
Aug 17, 20233 min read
MOORLAND ASSOCIATION RESPONSE TO RSPB 2021 BIRD CRIME REPORT
Following publication of the RSPB bird crime report today, the Moorland Association has issued the following statement: We unreservedly...
Rob Beeson
Nov 15, 20221 min read
Hen harriers brought back from the brink
The Moorland Association today welcomes news of a further increase in successful breeding by Hen Harriers in England, with 75 per cent of...
Rob Beeson
Aug 26, 20222 min read
Return of the hen harrier – new chicks take off as pioneering trial reaches key milestone
A pioneering trial set up to help rebuild the population of the endangered Hen Harrier in England has reared and released 13 chicks this...
Rob Beeson
Aug 17, 20223 min read
Hen harrier nestcam on Swinton Estate - Compilation
This Spring, five Hen Harrier chicks fledged successfully from a nest on Swinton Estate in Yorkshire. The estate is a partner in the...
Rob Beeson
Jul 4, 20221 min read
First hen harrier live webcam in England now online
https://www.moorlandassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Hen-Harrier-nest-on-the-Swinton-Estate-North-Yorkshire-1-June-2022.mp4 The...
Rob Beeson
Jun 1, 20221 min read
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