The Peak District National Park Authority has issued the following statement today:
PEAK DISTRICT BIRD OF PREY INITIATIVE TO CLOSE AS PERSECUTION CASES CONTINUE
The Peak District Bird of Prey Initiative is to close, with differing views among the group’s stakeholders and continued cases of persecution within the region leading to the initiative ‘no longer being able to deliver meaningful change’ – according to the National Park Authority, convenors of the initiative.
Set up in 2011 by the National Park Authority, the initiative’s goal was for populations of the region’s key birds of prey or ‘raptors’ to be returned to levels last seen during the 1990s, and the re-establishment of hen harrier as a regularly breeding species.
The Peak District has historically been home to populations of iconic species such as the peregrine, goshawk, merlin – the UK’s smallest raptor – and the hen harrier, one of the most persecuted birds of prey in the country. A supporting cast of other raptors includes the short-eared owl, with increasing sightings of red kites and ospreys.
Despite more than a decade of the initiative, which included representatives from the landowning and gamekeeping community, experienced raptor surveyors, conservation groups, the police and other bodies, populations of many of the key species have not increased at the rates initially hoped for with some seeing no improvement at all. Whilst hen harriers have returned to the area, successful breeding currently remains limited.
Those involved in the annual surveying of raptors within the study area – largely comprising the National Park’s ‘Dark Peak’ uplands, have recently stated they no longer felt they could continue supporting the group. The RSPB stepped down as a member of the initiative in 2018.
Although progress has been seen with some species including the goshawk, and with the Initiative acknowledging that other species’ population changes appear to be mirroring those of wider UK trends, direct persecution has remained a factor alongside the initiative’s decade-long existence.
Incidents of shooting, poisoning, trapping, nest destruction or the disappearance of satellite-tracked birds active within the Peak District have featured in every year of the initiative’s monitoring.
The National Park Authority believes that until these illegal activities are tackled, meaningful progress towards population increases in key species will not be possible.
Phil Mulligan, chief executive of the Peak District National Park Authority said: “It is with regret that we are closing the initiative after more than a decade of endeavours to safeguard our charismatic birds of prey that have a rightful place here in the National Park.
“Featuring at the very top of local ecosystems, these species like the hen harrier, peregrine and goshawk should be a flagship for landscapes and habitats at the heart of nature’s recovery.
“The fact that the work of the initiative has failed to reflect those target populations of some 30 years ago remains a cause for real concern, and it is without question that illegal persecution targeted towards some of these species is one factor behind this stuttering progress.
“I would like to extend my thanks to those who have put their time, energies and passion into the painstaking study, sharing of information and analysis of our raptor populations during the initiative’s existence, but we must now look at alternative ways to ensure our birds of prey have a future in the Peak District – free from the risk of illegal actions.”
The Authority has confirmed that it will continue working with a range of local stakeholders on priority actions for the future of birds of prey in the Peak District and potential activities will be outlined as part of the Authority’s ‘Nature Recovery Plan’ due to be released this summer.
ENDS
Hats off to the new Park Authority Chief Executive Phil Mulligan for having the guts to pull the plug on this long-running fiasco and especially for writing such an unequivocal and damning press release about the ongoing raptor persecution in this National Park.
The Peak District Bird of Prey Initiative has been an abject failure, consistently failing to meet its targets year after year. Calls by conservationists for it to be disbanded were routinely ignored by the previous Chief Executive over many years, providing an opportunity for the grouse-shooting organisations to pretend that they were working productively and cooperatively to bring an end to raptor persecution in the Park. Behind the scenes, the reality was somewhat different (e.g. see here and here).
The disbanding of this fake partnership signals a renewed hope for the area’s raptors, removing the persecution deniers from a position of influence. It’s now time for the Park Authority to form a genuine partnership that isn’t constrained by grandstanding propagandists whose sole intent seems to be to shield the criminals, not just from view, but from justice.
Previous blogs on the Peak District Bird of Prey Initiative can be read here, here, here, here, here, here, here.
Raptor Persecution UK 
Indeed! As EVERYONE well knows (incl. , doubtless, the shooters themselves) there really is only ONE way to stop this persecution of protected species – no more nor less than organised crime since 1954 – and that is to demand a complete BAN on ALL bird shooting bloodsports. RSPB, WildlifeTrusts, NationalTrust, BTO, SOC members and supporters would do well to demand these, OUR NGOs, take a substantive lead on this – We should also demand a full, independent Public Inquiry into both DEFRA (aka Deathra) and NaturalEngland (aka UNnaturalEngland) both of whom are NOT fit for purpose… Reminding all that, History Takes No Prisoners.
Well said Clive. While you are right in that a complete ban is the only real answer to all the ills associated with killing birds for fun, it is nonetheless good to see a sham organisation go down.
You clearly have no idea what you are talking about and just listen to any crap and nonsense you see fit. Also the NEW CEO of national park who again knows very little if anything about the national park and it eco system is clearly listening to one side which is flawed and based on no facts. Funny how you don’t all bang on about [Ed: off topic]
You clearly haven’t read #Inglorious by Mark Avery ; perhaps, if you did, you’d appreciate that the days of blasting birds out of the skies for “fun” are soon to be consigned to the more sordid pages of our history books for the barbarous anachronism they are – times are rapidly changing, and, especially if you work in the killing for kicks industry, you may find Chapter 6 of particular interest… (but please don’t “bang on about it!?)
mark avery is an idiot who sees things his way with his rose tinted spectacles
Dr Avery is many things, but ‘an idiot’ isn’t one of them.
Took the words right out of my mouth Ruth…
No idea about the colour of any spectacles worn by Mark , but, if you think he’s “an idiot” (in fact he’s a very intelligent chap most of us reckon) you clearly haven’t read his book #Inglorious yet – go on, give it a read ; you know it makes sense…
Hear, hear
Restoration of raptor populations from the 1990s is desirable. However, we all know that the problem won’t have been resolved until and unless there is a viable population of Golden Eagles nesting in the Pennines, as there was 250 years ago. That will require a wholesale change in attitudes, which would see the Peak District, plus the Dales, Northumberland and Lake District all being managed as genuine areas of wilderness, for the benefit of their native wildlife and local inhabitants alike.
The present regime is about tacit acceptance that the leisure pursuits of the wealthy must take priority. It’s to be hoped that we will live to see a change
This is a courageous move by the new CEO. Raptor persecution and all that goes with it crucially devalues the Peak Park. All too often National Parks have been about landscape and recreation only but nature is an inescapable part of the landscape. It would help if conservation organisations made it quite clear that they will oppose internationally any attempt by the Government to claim that National Parks are currently ‘protected areas’ – crucial to the 30% international target.
I dont shoot but like to see it. At the end of the day it’s game keepers that will get shooting stopped because of the way they act.
Hopefully this will see the end of all sham partnerships which create nothing but smokescreens, figleaves and very long grass. The brood meddlers should be asking questions of themselves.
I commend Chief Executive Phil Mulligan for his stance and sympathise with the huge amount of frustration that is obvious in this statement.
The hard truth is that until the government (and this Tory Government in particular) commits honestly to the cause then there will be no meaningful progress. Politicians pay lip-service to ideals while pandering to their backers’ wishes .. everyone knows that but few in that fantasy world are prepared to stand against it!
To move this Government only a groundswell of public opinion is likely to have any effect. To achieve that all major wildlife organisations need to come together (as they have recently for other causes) and invigorate public concerns. With elections coming up even if the Tory Government will not budge it would seem likely that alternative parties would (if only to gain votes!).
Shooting for ‘fun’ (and being proud of it) is an abomination and a stain on society. Most ‘normal’ people would agree if they knew the facts …!!
I’ve lived in places where hunting and wildfowling are an essential part, to this day, of feeding your family and your community. I freely admit I enjoy doing so, but it’s different to the stylised bloodbath that is”managed” grouse shooting. That, I truly despise. I’ve never shot anything I didn’t eat or that wasn’t in the active attempt to eat me, and the latter only once and with great regret.
I greeted with joy the ban on the ritualised fox “hunt.” To me, that’s not hunting. It’s no part of living with the land instead of just on it. Now we need to do the same to any kind of driven shooting. Put these managed grouse moors out of that business, so there’s no benefit to them from persecuting raptors.
Maybe then the folks who think standing in line and blazing away at anything that flies overhead is hunting could learn some actual woodcraft to get to take their chance, and in the process learn to hunt with respect and reverence, with a greater regard for the environment that is providing for them. If they did, they’d discover a healthy raptor population is good for the prey species too. They keep things in balance.
I appreciate everyone’s comments and am a great admirer of our beautiful birds of prey. I think Davebooth’s comments are interesting….and give another persecuting on things. I recall once going fishing overseas on an island- but the islanders only wanted to catch a small number of fish- enough to eat – so that there were plenty of fish for the future. If only the bird-slaughtering lines of shooters could understand this. Sadly, whilst there is a market for people wanting to shoot – and pay lots of money to do so – some of our landowners sadly will be only too willing to provide the land to oblige with bird-killing activities.
I think we need public pressure on King Charles to support the cause to save raptors and reduce/eliminate mindless bird-shooting of all types – which might earn him some well-needed positive publicity. If he could set the example, and condemn the attraction of senseless bird-killing and expect his extended family to follow suit, then that might have a positive knock-on effect on those upper-class people who think that shooting is desirable and associates them with a superior class. But I doubt that would ever happen.
[Ed: comment removed as abusive]
I meant perspective on things…how does one edit??
Birds before Herds
And now Amanda “if we let them in” Anderson comes out from wherever she’s been hiding lately, to make. yet another of her monumentally stupid statements…
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/apr/25/peak-district-protect-birds-prey-conservationists-raptor-species