SIX countryside groups have joined forces to call on Defra to implement a plan for the recovery of hen harriers.

The British Association for Shooting and Conservation, CLA, Countryside Alliance, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation and the Moorland Association want to see more hen harriers nesting in England.

Last year, there were just four breeding attempts, all on or adjacent to moorland managed for red grouse, with 16 chicks fledged. And, this year, nesting attempts saw a 300 per cent increase to 12 nests. Six of these were successful, with 18 chicks surviving.

Grouse moor managers played a significant role in this year’s success by protecting nests, but the organisations say more needs to be done.

Austwick's Amanda Anderson, director of the Moorland Association, said: “All of the organisations welcome the spotlight on harriers and we condemn wildlife crime. Everyone needs to keep building on this year’s improvement to springboard a wider recovery.

“Severely cold and wet weather has been awful for all wildlife trying to breed on the moors this year leading to a lack of prey. Early in the season, male harriers did not return to nests causing females to abandon eggs in search of food. Nesting attempts later in spring did better, but one nest of chicks was eaten by stoats whilst another brood was found dead at the nest just days after satellite tagging.

"Six nesting attempts, of which only one was successful, were all in a very small area of Bowland managed for red grouse.

“There is a draft six-point, Defra-led Joint Recovery Plan which we wish to see published and implemented. This would offer a mechanism to guarantee chick safety and spread the nests to avoid a colony forming in one location. Not only would this reduce the impact on ground nesting birds on which they prey, especially red grouse, but also protect against local dangers, like poor weather and predation.

“If implemented, the plan would see the growth of a sustainable population of hen harriers across their former English range, without jeopardising driven grouse shooting or the environmental, social and economic benefits it delivers.”