Friends of the Dales

Help Stop the Criminal Killing of Birds of Prey Despite more than 70 years of full legal protection, raptor persecution remains a serious and persistent wildlife crime. The Yorkshire Dales is one of the UK’s worst-affected areas, with 152 confirmed...

The hen harrier - one of the most persecuted birds of prey in the UK - especially in the #YorkshireDales
The average lifespan of a hen harrier in UK is 121 days - whereas worldwide it is 7 years.
Sign our petition for 3 key law reforms to protect #birdsofprey
actionnetwork.org/petitions/he...

UK Government confirms ban on sale & use of toxic lead ammunition for ‘live quarry shooting’ from 1st April 2029 Following the announcement from Defra in July 2025 that the Government aimed to introduce legislation by the summer of 2026 to ban the sale and use of toxic lead ammunition for ‘live quarry s…

UK Government confirms ban on sale and use of toxic lead ammunition for live quarry shooting from 1st April 2029.

Good news for the environment & wildlife (especially raptors!)

New blog ⬇️

#RaptorResearch

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/03/05/u...

Help Stop the Criminal Killing of Birds of Prey Despite more than 70 years of full legal protection, raptor persecution remains a serious and persistent wildlife crime. The Yorkshire Dales is one of the UK’s worst-affected areas, with 152…

Sign our petition to stop the ongoing persecution of #BirdsofPrey
🦅 Introduction of sentencing guidelines & more meaningful fines
🦅 Creation of National Wildlife Crime Database
🦅 Regulation & licensing of the gamebird-shooting industry
Sign now: tinyurl.com/arcmkmh6

Help Stop the Criminal Killing of Birds of Prey Despite more than 70 years of full legal protection, raptor persecution remains a serious and persistent wildlife crime. The Yorkshire Dales is one of the UK’s worst-affected areas, with 152 confirmed...

Please sign our #petition to help put an end to the ongoing #persecution of #birdsofprey 🦅
We are asking for 3 key reforms to bring this barbaric & criminal practice to an end - please sign now and share:
#BirdsofPreyPersecution RSPB #RaptorPersecution 👊
actionnetwork.org/petitions/he...

Three reforms to stop the criminal killing of birds of prey – new petition to UK Minister from Friends of the Dales A new petition has been launched calling on the UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Mary Creagh MP) to bring in legal reform to help stop the illegal persecution of birds of prey. The petiti…

Three legal reforms to stop the criminal killing of birds of prey - new petition to UK Minister from @friendsofthedales.bsky.social

Details & link to petition in blog 🔽

#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime 🌍

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/02/19/t...

Protecting Birds of Prey – Inside the Work of UK Wildlife Crime Policing YouTube video by Friends of the Dales

Watch now! 👀
Featuring DI Mark Harrison of the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit - this talk offers an invaluable insight into real-world challenges of protecting vulnerable & endangered #birdsofprey in North Yorkshire 👇 🦉 🦅
#BirdsofPreyPersecution #RaptorPersecution
www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7Jb...

Satellite-tagged Hen Harrier that gamekeeper Racster Dingwall chose not to shoot (to avoid unwanted attention), found poisoned three months later near another Yorkshire grouse moor The news yesterday was all about the conviction and sentencing of Head Gamekeeper Racster Dingwall for his part in a conspiracy to kill Hen Harriers at a roost on the Conistone & Grassington Es…

Satellite-tagged Hen Harrier that gamekeeper Racster Dingwall chose not to shoot (to avoid unwanted attention), found poisoned 3 months later nr another Yorkshire grouse moor. The bird that almost got away.

New extended RSPB covert footage ⬇️

#RaptorResearch

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/01/30/s...

Gamekeeper Racster Dingwall pleads guilty to conspiracy to kill a Hen Harrier on a grouse moor in Yorkshire Dales National Park. BREAKING NEWS… Further to this morning’s blog, gamekeeper Racster Dingwall has pleaded guilty to two charges, including conspiracy to kill a Hen Harrier on a grouse moor on the Coniston…

BREAKING NEWS....Gamekeeper Racster Dingwall pleads guilty to conspiracy to kill a Hen Harrier on a grouse moor in Yorkshire Dales National Park ⚖️

New blog ⬇️

#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/01/29/g...

Three free webinars about illegal raptor persecution hosted by Friends of the Dales ‘Eyes on the Skies’ campaign Last year, charity Friends of the Dales launched a new campaign calling for an end to the criminal killing of birds of prey in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The Eyes on the Skies campaign, whi…

3 upcoming free webinars on UK raptor persecution hosted by brilliant @friendsofthedales.bsky.social

27 Jan - DI Mark Harrison, NWCU
18 Feb - Indy Greene & Adrian Rowe, Hen Harrier Action
18 Mar - Dr Ruth Tingay, Raptor Persecution UK

#RaptorResearch

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/01/18/t...

Our latest newsletter below - with booking link to our March talk with #DrRuthTingay talking #RaptorPersecution 🦅
Ruth campaigns against the illegal killing of #birdsofprey through #RaptorPersecutionUK & is also a co-director of @wildjustice.bsky.social with #ChrisPackham
mailchi.mp/8b380fcce4e8...

Thank you to our Creative Campaigner Molly for taking our latest membership magazine - all about our #campaign against #BirdsofPreyPersecution to the #HousesofParliament and #DowningStreet 👊🦅❤

Fantastic to support @campaign4parks.bsky.social at the #HousesofParliament sharing a vision for #NationalParks where #youngpeople have a say in shaping their future!
Photos show Molly Simmons, Josh Burge & Joely Newell with our Executive Director, Ann Shadrake & Hermione Pocock from @YDMT

Absolutely shocking.

We're offering an overall award of £10k for information that leads to a conviction in these cases.

We need to make raptor persecution a thing of the past.

A fat robin sat on a branch.

Your latest newsletter - with all our #news, #events and an #EyesontheSkies campaign update - if you like what you read - please sign up for it or share!
mailchi.mp/defde67e8dd5...

The charity Hen Harrier Action launches Xmas fundraiser to buy satellite tags The charity Hen Harrier Action has launched its annual Xmas fundraising appeal, this year with a target of £15K to purchase five satellite tags to be fitted to Hen Harrier chicks in 2026. As you&#8…

The UK charity Hen Harrier Action @henharrieraction.bsky.social launches Xmas fundraiser to buy more satellite tags.

Commentary on why this is important & a link to the fundraiser ⬇️⬇️

#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/12/11/t...

Events - Friends of the Dales Missed a talk? All our past talks can be viewed via our YouTube channel. Online Talk: Protecting Birds of Prey – Inside the Work of UK Wildlife Crime Policing Tuesday 27 January, 5:30pm – 7:00pm Join ...

Birds of prey persecution is real despite 70 years of legal protection...
Remember a low conviction rate does not indicate low levels of crime 🤨 🤔
Find out more from DI Mark Harrison of UK National Wildlife Crime Unit at our free online talk on 27 Jan - book here: friendsofthedales.org.uk/events

Can you help? @henharrieraction.bsky.social is appealing for information re. the disappearance of tagged #Henharrier Circe.
#RaptorPersection #BirdsofPreyPersecution #BirdsofPrey

New independent report reveals locations of poisoned raptors in northern England, 2015-2023 – information that has been suppressed by government Press release from independent group, Wildlife Poisoning Research UK, 15th November 2025. WHERE THE POISONED BODIES WERE FOUND! Many people probably imagine that the use of poisons to kill protecte…

New independent report by #WildlifePoisoningResearchUK & featured @raptorpersuk.bsky.social reveals locations of poisoned birds of prey in northern England from 2015-2023.
Support our #EyesontheSkies campaign - raising awareness of #birdsofprey persecution.
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/17/n...

We need to ensure our elected officials are acting on the best intelligence when it comes to tackling the climate crisis . It's why I'm opening the National Emergency Briefing on 27 November , ensure your MP is attending at nebriefing.org

Events - Friends of the Dales Missed a talk? All our past talks can be viewed via our YouTube channel. Online Talk: Protecting Birds of Prey – Inside the Work of UK Wildlife Crime Policing Tuesday 27 January, 5:30pm – 7:00pm Join ...

Book for our next online talk to learn more about the realities of protecting our vulnerable and #endangered #BirdsofPrey in #NorthYorkshire from DI Mark Harrison of the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit 👀 - 27 January 5.30pm.
#BirdsofPreyPersecution #RaptorPersecution
friendsofthedales.org.uk/events

Eyes on the Skies launch - Speaking Out Against Birds of Prey Persecution YouTube video by Friends of the Dales

Missed the online launch of our latest #campaign - #EyesontheSkies speaking out about the ongoing criminal persecution of #BirdsofPrey with Kate Jennings, UK Head of Site Conservation & Species Policy at RSPB - watch it here now:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAM9...
#YorkshireDales #RaptorPersecution

Thankyou to @keasdenkate.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social for launching our new campaign #EyesontheSkies speaking out against the very illegal #persecution of #BirdsofPrey
& thank you all that attended & supported🤩
Sign up to our enews for all future plans & events: www.friendsofthedales.org.uk

Secret filming uncovers illegal killings of rare birds in England YouTube video by Channel 4 News

Superb, hard-hitting presentation (including further info about this infamous C4 News footage) for the @friendsofthedales.bsky.social ‘Eyes on the Skies’ initiative.
youtube.com/watch?v=VKVU...

🙏 @keasdenkate.bsky.social
@rspb.bsky.social

Find out more here:
friendsofthedales.org.uk

Thank you for sharing and promoting our #EyesontheSkies campaign 😍

Still time to book 4 launch of #EyesontheSkies - our new #campaign - calling for an end to #birdsofpreypersecution - with Kate Jennings, UK Head of Site Conservation & Species Policy @rspb.bsky.social Book at: friendsofthedales.org.uk

Yorkshire Dales Bird of prey protection campaign launched Friends of the Dales is raising awareness about the illegal killing of hen harriers and other birds.

Great to see our new #EyesontheSkies campaign, speaking out against #BirdsofPrey #Persecution making the national #BBC news 👀👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Bird crime in the #YorkshireDales persists – after over 70 years of legal protection.
Support our campaign and book for our free ONLINE launch on Tuesday 21 October, 5.30pm at: friendsofthedales.org.uk/events
#EyesontheSkies #RaptorPersecution @raptorpersuk.bsky.social @campaign4parks.bsky.social

‘Eyes on the Skies’ – new campaign to raise awareness of raptor persecution in the Yorkshire Dales National Park Following the recent collapse of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Bird of Prey Partnership (due to its failure to tackle crimes against birds of prey), and the news that since 2015, 29 Hen Harrier…

An excellent new initiative led by a local community that is sick to the back teeth of illegal raptor persecution inside this National Park.

Bravo, @friendsofthedales.bsky.social

#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/10/08/e...

Our AGM on Saturday with an inspiring panel of speakers sharing their thoughts about how we could increase the reach and #inclusiveness of our charity's #campaigning work in the #YorkshireDalesNationalPark
Thank you to our President @amyjanebeer.bsky.social, Derek Twine and #MollySimmons

We've a new environmental wildlife protection campaign launching very soon!
To keep up to date with our news and events about it - sign up to our monthly e news on our website home page.
#yorkshiredalesnationalpark #yorkshiredales #environment #wildlife #campaign
Photo is Deepdale near Dent.