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Wildlife

Blueprints for nature’s recovery: all systems go! 

An open grassy meadow, with yellow wildflowers growing. Trees stand on the horizon, and some branches hang overhead.

Last December in Montreal world leaders agreed to a new Global Biodiversity Framework, signing up to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and to protect 30% of land and oceans by the same date. A month later the UK …

Celebrating World Ocean Day 2023: Building Partnerships for Planet Ocean

World Ocean Day illustration banner

World Ocean Day is an annual event celebrated on 08 June that not only serves as a day of observance but also fosters collaboration and encourages year-round conservation action. This global celebration unites individuals and organisations from around the world, …

Restoring Britain’s pine martens: a position from Natural England, NatureScot and Natural Resources Wales

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Species recovery, Wildlife

John Holmes, Strategy Director, Natural England  I confess I have never seen a pine marten, but I hope to one day. For now though, knowing they are out there, and that they are spreading gives me real hope for nature …

The death of Free, a Natural England tagged hen harrier

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Hen Harriers, Protected sites and species, Wildlife
Image of 'Natural England' logo.

Stephanie Bird-Halton, Director, National Delivery, Natural England Hen harriers are currently extremely rare in England due to illegal persecution and nest disturbance, primarily in areas associated with grouse shooting. Natural England satellite-tracks hen harriers in order to investigate patterns of …

Nature Recovery: led by evidence. Chief Scientist Report 2022

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Science and evidence, Wildlife

Dr Tim Hill, Chief Scientist at Natural England, tells us about the publication of Natural England’s fifth Chief Scientist Report. Never before has good quality science, evidence and analysis on environmental change been so important for nature, society and the …

How new fire management partnerships are helping nature to recover at Hatfield Moors

Hatfield Moors - photo shows the moors recovering with native plants springing up across the moor

Almost three years on from a serious wildfire at Hatfield Moors near Doncaster, nature is in recovery thanks to an ever-stronger partnership between Natural England and South Yorkshire and Humberside Fire and Rescue Services. A new, jointly written Wildfire Management …

Gamekeeper sentenced for raptor persecution illustrates wider problem of wildlife poisonings

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Licensing, Protected sites and species, Wildlife
Dorset Police & Natural England with two containers of Cymag

By Stephanie Bird-Halton, National Delivery Director. Today, Paul Allen, a gamekeeper working on the Shaftesbury Estate in Dorset, was sentenced for offences of possession of dead buzzards, keeping of banned pesticides and failing to comply with conditions of shotgun and …

Natural England wildlife licensing statistics for 2022

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Licensing, Protected sites and species, Wildlife
Red kites in aviaries in Spain ahead of release

By Stephanie Bird-Halton, National Delivery Director Many wild animals and plants are protected in law by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. As nature conservation adviser and regulator, one of Natural …

The death of Asta, a Natural England-tagged hen harrier

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Hen Harriers, Protected sites and species, Wildlife
Typical hen harrier upland breeding habitat

By: John Holmes, NE Strategy Director Hen harriers are currently extremely rare in England due to illegal persecution and nest disturbance, primarily in areas associated with grouse shooting. Natural England satellite-tracks hen harriers in order to investigate patterns of dispersal …

More than 100 hen harriers fledge in England for the first time in over 100 years.

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Hen Harriers, Licensing, Protected sites and species, Wildlife
Satellite tagged hen harrier in flight

By: John Holmes, NE Strategy Director This year has seen another encouraging increase in the breeding population of one of our rarest birds of prey. Natural England and partners are pleased to report that a total of 49 hen harrier …