The hen harrier southern reintroduction aims to establish a wild, farmland nesting population of hen harriers in the south of England. Supported by a conservation breeding programme, the project plans to introduce up to 100 juvenile hen harriers to a protected …| naturalengland.blog.gov.uk
Hen harriers are rare birds of prey that breed in the uplands of northern England. While we have welcomed increases in breeding numbers in recent years, up to a high of 54 nests in 2023, their recovery remains threatened by …| naturalengland.blog.gov.uk
A recap In Autumn of 2022, ten captive hen harriers were transported to the UK from a rescue centre in France for Natural England’s conservation breeding programme (Hen harrier Reintroduction NE Blog). This forms an important step in the Southern …| naturalengland.blog.gov.uk
By: John Holmes, NE Strategy Director Natural England, in partnership with the International Centre for Birds of Prey (ICBP), is establishing a conservation breeding programme for hen harriers as part of a pioneering project to reintroduce this iconic species to …| naturalengland.blog.gov.uk
News and updates from Natural England| naturalengland.blog.gov.uk
News and updates from Natural England| naturalengland.blog.gov.uk
On 16th October, the High Court decided against an application by Natural England to increase the amount of costs that claimants, The Badger Trust and Wild Justice, should pay back to Natural England from £10,000 to £30,000 and £20,000 respectively, in the …| Natural England
By Martin Moss, Senior Officer - Green Infrastructure Mapping Team As recognition grows of the importance of nature to our health and wellbeing, understanding green infrastructure provision is vital to ensuring everyone can benefit from nature wherever they live. Natural …| Natural England
We’re in the middle of a step change for national-scale environmental evidence in England. In recent years, the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) programme has allowed us to create and upgrade maps and data products like the England Peat …| Natural England
From international pledges to pioneering reintroduction projects, it’s been an exciting year for England’s fungi. Natural England Mycologist, Matt Wainhouse, reflects on remarkable year for fungal conservation. Fungi on the global agenda Fungi have often missed out in the global …| Natural England
By Co-Chairs Dame Caroline Spelman and Sarah Mukherjee MBE. Together, we have the pleasure of Co-Chairing Natural England’s Landscape Advisory Panel (NELAP), Sarah as our external Co-Chair, drawing upon her long experience, including as a Member of Julian Glover’s Landscapes …| Natural England
Nature Returns is a flagship programme led by Natural England, which is delivering practical solutions for nature and climate and building robust scientific evidence to support policy and investment decisions. Nature-based solutions address problems in ways that benefit both people and …| naturalengland.blog.gov.uk
By Patrick Shannon-Hughes, Environmental Quality for Nature Senior Officer (Agri Chemicals) We’re pleased to release the updated Weed Control Handbook: Guidance for Herbicide Use on Nature Conservation Sites - a long-awaited refresh of the 2002 Herbicide Handbook. This new edition …| Natural England
By John Holmes, Director of Strategy On 5 September, Defra announced strengthened legislation on burning on peat. The new legislation came into force this week, with the new burning season commencing on Wednesday. We welcome the strengthened legislation which will …| Natural England
Acting for nature recovery at scale Defra and Natural England invested £7.4 million to initiate twelve landscape-scale Nature Recovery Projects (NRPs) across the country, over the three years of the Comprehensive Spending Review 2022/23-2024/25. Covering over 319,480ha, these projects were …| Natural England
By Matthew Heard, National Delivery Director Numbers of nesting hen harriers in England have risen slightly this year, according to data collected by Natural England and partners. Breeding figures and regional breakdown In 2025, Natural England and partners recorded a …| Natural England
By Sofía Muñoz, Senior Officer, Hen Harrier Southern Reintroduction Background The Hen Harrier Southern Reintroduction Project was set up in 2018 with the aim of establishing a wild, farmland-nesting population of hen harriers (Circus cyaneus) in southern England. The hen …| naturalengland.blog.gov.uk
By Alisa Swanson, Natural England Creating new woody habitats, whether woodlands, scrub, wood pasture, wooded meadows or wet woodlands, can play a vital role in reversing biodiversity loss and building climate resilience across England’s landscapes. Natural England’s ambition is to …| naturalengland.blog.gov.uk
By Vicky Ward, Tees Estuary Nature Recovery Partnership Project Manager It is a bright summer’s morning, as I walk through a striking landscape of contrasts. Through the passing juggernauts and across the brine fields to my right, an abundance of …| naturalengland.blog.gov.uk
The Corry Review was set up by Defra Secretary of State Steve Reed, in October last year to examine whether the inherited regulatory landscape is fit for purpose and to develop recommendations to ensure that regulation across the Department is …| naturalengland.blog.gov.uk
By Karen Shelley-Jones, Species Recovery Programme Manager and James Phillips, Principal Adviser for Species Recovery and Species Re-introductions England’s species are amazing. They can charm, intrigue, amaze, inspire and frighten us. They spark our interest and concern. They are also …| naturalengland.blog.gov.uk
By James Phillips - Principal Officer – Species Recovery and Species Re-introductions and Karen Shelley-Jones - Senior Officer – Funding and Grant Scheme Management England’s species charm, intrigue, amaze and inspire us, sparking interest and concern in the natural world. …| naturalengland.blog.gov.uk
By Karen Faux - Local Nature Recovery Senior at Natural England In July, over 50 Natural England staff and partners came together for a 24 hour species recording event (or ‘bioblitz’) on the recently declared North Kent Woods and Downs …| naturalengland.blog.gov.uk
By Danielle Greaves, Higher Officer - Species Reintroduction and Recovery, Natural England Hidden beneath the surface of Nottinghamshire's rivers and streams lives an increasingly rare species – the white-clawed crayfish. As the UK's only native freshwater crayfish, these creatures play …| naturalengland.blog.gov.uk