The Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, alongside project partners including the Exmoor National Park and Forestry England will release up to 20 of the birds on Exmoor over a three year period with an additional eight years of monitoring.
This comes after more than a year of NFU engagement with the project.
NFU raises concerns
During this period, the NFU has met with the project partners regularly, laying out a number of asks after members raised concerns about the project’s proposals. We have worked to ensure land managers have had the opportunity to feedback to the project through proper consultation and we have sought to strengthen the requirements for this introduction.
In December 2025, the NFU submitted a letter to Natural England stating members' concerns about releasing species. It stated the need for a long term commitment of at least 20 years by the project partners to ensure land managers are supported as the species establishes.
It is encouraging to see that Natural England has required an additional eight years of monitoring in the licence conditions. After our engagement the project partners have all committed to 20 years of management and monitoring of the reintroduced birds and their progeny.
Support for land managers
The NFU further asked that the project facilitators be financially and legally responsible for the introduced birds, their offspring and their potential impacts for at least 20 years. The NFU also asked that the project provide management, mitigation and compensation support to farm businesses who may be impacted by the eagles.
The NFU will form part of the Project Steering Group in order to have oversight into the project. We will continue to ask for land manager support for the mitigation and management of White-tailed eagles.
Natural England has stipulated in the licence that the project will provide advice and support to land managers and must report any suspected damage attributed to the birds to Natural England.
“Through our engagement we have looked to gain a longer-term commitment for the management of these birds, to ensure that farmers are not burdened with the cost of managing their reintroduction.”
NFU South Regional Board Chair David Chugg
Representing member's concerns
NFU South Regional Board Chair David Chugg said: “The NFU has been working with the project partners for over a year to ensure members’ concerns were represented and accounted for. Through our engagement we have looked to gain a longer-term commitment for the management of these birds, to ensure that farmers are not burdened with the cost of managing their reintroduction.
“We know there are a wide range of views on the reintroduction of White-tailed eagles. Some farmers are keen to see these birds back in the landscape. However, many farmers do have concerns about the potential risks that White-tailed eagles could bring to farm businesses on and around Exmoor, especially around livestock predation.
“We have seen that these birds are impacting farm businesses in Scotland, last year the Scottish Government provided £970,000 to support farmers and crofters with managing the impacts from White-tiled eagles on livestock.
Birds could pose a threat
“We are concerned that these birds could pose a threat to the financial resilience of farm business and add further worrying pressure to farmers’ mental health at a time many are already struggling with rising costs.
“The NFU appreciates that the project partners and Natural England have considered the farming community’s views and concerns, and as such has put in place some measures and conditions into the licence to address this.
“The NFU will continue to work with the project and government to ensure that farmers have the right level of support to ensure they can manage and mitigate any potential impacts from White-tailed eagles.”
The NFU species reintroduction hub provides more information on species and the NFU’s policy work.