Long-awaited plan to save England's hen harrier gets green light

Conservation action plan for England's most threatened bird of prey has taken traditionally opposing groups more than four years to agree

Landowners, shooters, gamekeepers and conservationists have backed a long-delayed government plan to resolve a deep-rooted conflict over England's most threatened bird of prey.

The fate of the hen harrier in the English uplands has been of serious concern following years of illegal persecution by gamekeepers who have used poisoned bait to protect the grouse-shooting interests of landowners.