Farmers must be listened to on golden eagle return

Farmers must be properly consulted ahead of any move to reintroduce golden eagles to parts of northern England, according to the National Farmers' Union's regional board.

The government has pledged £1m to back the reintroduction of the species in areas including the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors as early as next year.

Golden eagles were wiped out in England and Wales by the mid-19th Century, mainly due to persecution by those who saw them as a threat to livestock or game birds.

Farmer William Maughan, NFU North regional board chair, said "thorough, meaningful and clear engagement with the farming community" was needed to address concerns before any decision was made.

After years of research by Forestry England into appropriate environments, and a successful re-enforcement of the species along the Scottish border, the government is now backing a parallel project.

The NFU said although studies suggested little or no economic risk to sheep, any potential impact on individual farming businesses needed to be fully understood and discussed.

Maughan added: "Farmers play a vital role in looking after nature and conserving species on farmland.

"It is vital that any project exploring the reintroduction of a species in particular golden eagles in the north of England is underpinned by thorough, meaningful and clear engagement with the farming community to hear their voices."

He went on to say the project should be based on "sound scientific evidence, and put in place a well-resourced management plan that works for nature, food production and the people who care for our landscapes every day".

Tom Orde‑Powlett, landowner and estate manager at Bolton Hall Estate in Wensleydale, said he was "excited" by the prospect, but stressed farmers most likely to be affected needed to be listened to.

A member of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), he said losses of lambs, particularly valuable breeding stock, could have serious financial consequences.

"If you're a sheep farmer and you've got a very large bird of prey that comes and takes some of your lambs, or your most expensive tup lamb, that would be a huge blow to someone's business."

He added: "I think as well as the sheep, in terms of game management there might be concerns.

"It might not all be negative though - there is anecdotal evidence that golden eagles might see off many other more generalist predators such as buzzards or red kites, so they could have a positive impact.

"I'm not saying it will happen, but again it's all these things that need to be discussed."

Orde‑Powlett said he had previous experience of species recolonisation on the estate, pointing to the return of ospreys, where breeding birds have become established in recent years.

"It is a very exciting prospect of having another wonderful species like golden eagles return to the skies.

"I think as long as local communities are listened to and everyone voices are heard, then there's every cause to be optimistic."

Following the re-introduction of the sea eagle, the only other UK apex predator, Scottish farmers reported having to abandon their hill farms after the birds decimated their lamb populations. And the National Farming Union Cymru has previously raised similar concerns of the risks from golden eagles.

Forestry England has said it will run a public consultation with landowners and farmers, but chicks could be brought in as early as next summer.

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