Delight over hen harrier chicks

The hen harrier, one of Britain’s most threatened birds, has bred in the Peak District National Park for the first time in four years.

Hatching last week on the National Trust’s High Peak Moors, the four chicks are said to be in a “healthy condition”, delighting conservationists who have been working for many years to protect the species.

The hen harrier, famed for its “sky dance” to attract a mate, is among birds of prey facing the highest levels of illegal persecution, in part due to its predation of grouse, which affects numbers left for shooting groups.

The National Trust has been working alongside shooting tenants of the High Peak Moors site to create the conditions for the harrier and other birds of prey to thrive once again.

The chicks in the Peak District will now be fitted with satellite tags to monitor their movements. Samantha Herbert