Plan to remove hen harrier chicks and raise them in captivity dismissed as 'nonsense'

Conservationists say government scheme, aimed at placating grouse moor land owners who object to the birds breeding on their land, will not boost numbers of the endangered birds

Controversial government plans to remove chicks from the nests of one of England's rarest birds and rear them in captivity have been criticised as "nonsense" by conservationists.

Hen harrier chicks or eggs will be removed from nests in northern England and hand-reared in captivity before being reintroduced into the wild, under the terms of a two-year licence issued by Natural England, the government's conservation watchdog.