Hen harriers are being wiped out
A PLAN to protect one of Britain’s most endangered birds of prey has failed and it means that the hen harrier almost certainly faces extinction in England.
The RSPB fears that the government’s plan to protect the bird in England has failed after decades of persecution by illegal shooters.
Yes, read all that again. In the 21st century we have a situation where a wonderful and spectacular bird of prey is being wiped out on OUR moors above Manchester and Lancashire.
While the word ‘illegal’ is used to prevent too many of the shooting community getting upset, who is shooting and poisoning the hen harriers? Evidence is pointing to a few people who just don’t like competition when they are out and about killing things for sport.
There is an argument which says that grouse moors are managed for one species, grouse. Anything that might affect that by taking and killing the grouse is not welcome on those managed moors.
Another thing I am personally concerned about is that when the beaters chase grouse out into the open for the shooters to fire at, how many more species are victim to this sport?
I understand that the sportsmen and women might take offence to my towny views – I was actually born in a rural village – but I think it all comes down to selfishness.
If you wipe a species out completely from our countryside your children and grandchildren will never have the opportunity to see that bird or mammal or bee. However, they might spot a few grouse or the million or so pheasants that have escaped the bullets over the centuries.
Hen harriers nest on the ground amongst the heather and on upland moorlands. Breeding pairs locally have tended to be around the Forest of Bowland. In the last couple of years the numbers of pairs breeding have been in single figures.
The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside is dedicated to the protection and promotion of the wildlife in Lancashire, seven boroughs of Greater Manchester and four of Merseyside, all lying north of the River Mersey. It manages around 40 nature reserves and 20 Local Nature Reserves covering acres of woodland, wetland, upland and meadow. The Trust has 27,000 members, and over 1,200 volunteers. To become a member of the Trust, go to the website at www. lancswt.org.uk or call 01772 324129. For more information about Cheshire Wildlife Trust call 01948 820728 or go to cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk.