The Hen Harrier population in England is experiencing a marked increase, according to new Natural England figures.

141 chicks successfully fledged this year, an increase from last year's century-high of 119.

As recently as 2013, there were no successful Hen Harrier nests in England.

Amanda Anderson, director of the Moorland Association, said: “Our members undertake a range of actions including nest monitoring, supplementary feeding and, crucially, providing protected habitat which offers these ground-nesting birds the best chance of successfully fledging chicks.”

The Hen Harrier Joint Action Plan was established by the government in 2016 and the Hen Harrier Brood Management Trial began in 2018, leading to a 1,300 per cent improvement in Hen Harrier numbers, with 485 chicks taking to the wing.

Geographic range expansion, including to Cumbria, has also contributed to the recovery.

Amanda hopes a Defra plan to reintroduce the birds to the South of England could contribute to 'ending decades of concern for the species'.