Wildlife photographer and polar explorer Conrad Dickinson has highlighted the plight of hen harriers, describing them as "the most persecuted bird in England". The 71-year-old from Hexham, who has spent 10 years monitoring hen harrier nests as an RSPB volunteer, believes there is scope for collaboration between the sport shooting and conservation industries to protect the birds.
The RSPB has called for greater protection for hen harriers, stating that the bird continues to be "illegally killed" in connection with land managed for driven grouse shooting. Dickinson, who grew up in a rural farming community as the son of gamekeepers, suggests that compromise could lead to a situation where both industries work in tandem.
Beyond his work with hen harriers, Dickinson is the president of the Northumberland Wildlife Trust. The charity is in the process of purchasing the 3,800-hectare Rothbury estate in Northumberland, with plans to enhance wildlife, restore bogs, and promote nature-friendly farming. The organisation is close to raising the £30m needed for the acquisition.