Grouse moors fledge more hen harriers than other areas this year

New Government figures have revealed the RSPB's lack of success in contributing to this year's hen harrier numbers, with all but one of the seven nests over which the charity had primary control failing.

The figures, released by Defra in response to a question in the House of Lords, show there were 12 hen harrier nesting attempts in England this year. Six were successful, of which four were on, or immediately adjacent to, moorland with grouse shooting interests, and six failed. The number of breeding attempts was a marked 300% increase on 2014, when there just four breeding attempts.

Five of the twelve nests were monitored either by local raptor workers or a combination of organisations including Natural England and the Forestry Commission, and with the full cooperation of the private landowners all were successful in fledging chicks. However of the remaining seven nests monitored by the RSPB, one of which was on their own land, six failed.

Adrian Blackmore, director of shooting for the Countryside Alliance, said: "It is marvellous news that 18 hen harrier chicks fledged in England this year, but more still needs to be done.

"In order to build on this year's breeding success, the Countryside Alliance, British Association for Shooting and Conservation, CLA, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, The National Gamekeepers' Organisation, and the Moorland Association are continuing to urge Defra to implement the Hen Harrier Joint Recovery Plan – the full publication of which the RSPB remains firmly against.

"Given its failure with hen harrier nests this season, the charity's resistance to this is becoming increasingly questionable. Either it wants to see an improvement in the conservation status of the hen harrier in England, or it doesn't."

Defra figures 2015 Hen Harrier nests