Golden eagles to make sensational comeback to England after nearly 200 years

Susanna Siddell
Sun, 12 Apr 2026 08:38:38 +0000

Golden eagles are set to make a sensational comeback to England after nearly two centuries.

As part of the plan to reintroduce the iconic bird of prey back into British wildlife, the Government announced £1million in funding to explore methods of reintroduction.

Kickstarting the scheme, Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds approved the additional money to support a recovery programme for the iconic bird of prey.

On the birds' exciting return to the English landscape, Ms Reynolds said: "This Government is committed to protecting and restoring our most threatened native wildlife – and that includes bringing back iconic species like the golden eagle.

"Backed by £1million of Government funding – we will work alongside partners and communities to make the golden eagle a feature of English landscapes once again."

The funding make up part of a £60million species recovery package announced by the Environment Department last week, in exciting news for birdwatchers and wildlife lovers alike.

Once common across England, golden eagles fell under threat after Victorian sheep farmers and gamekeepers virtually eliminated them as threats to lambs and game birds.

Then, later in the 20th century, pesticide use further damaged the species' numbers by affecting fertility.

Despite its dwindling numbers, the magnificent species boasts a two-metre wingspan and appears more than 40 times in Shakespeare's works.

As apex predators, they also play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance yet despite their environmental significance, only a handful of pairs have been spotted in England over the past 150 years.

The last golden eagle in England died in the Lake District in 2016. However, the species survives in Scotland.

A recent Forestry England study found that England can now sustain golden eagle populations once more - with researchers pinpointing eight potential recovery zones, primarily in northern England.

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While establishing breeding populations could take more than a decade, it could be worth the effort as, in southern Scotland, a major restoration project has boosted golden eagle numbers to record levels.

Satellite tracking shows some of these Scottish birds have already flown across the border to explore northern England.

The Government added that Scottish eagles could be seen throughout northern England within 10 years.

Now, young eagles aged six to eight weeks could be released as early as next year as part of reintroduction efforts.

Mike Seddon, Forestry England chief executive, said: "The detailed findings of our feasibility study will guide us with our partners, Restoring Upland Nature, to take the next steps to explore the recovery of golden eagles in northern England.

"This (Environment Department) funding means we can build on the good work we have begun, taking the time to build support and engage with local communities, landowners and land managers and conservation organisations."

The charity Restoring Upland Nature will lead the project alongside Forestry England.

Cat Barlow, RUN chief executive, said: "This is a truly exciting and potentially game-changing moment for the return of golden eagles to Northern England.

"Our priority will be to listen, to work in partnership, and to ensure that golden eagle recovery supports both nature and the people who manage these landscapes, so that everyone can enjoy the thrill of seeing golden eagles flying high once again across the uplands of the UK."