The Hawk and Owl Trust has announced it will conclude its involvement in the controversial Hen Harrier 'brood-management' trial as the current licence comes to an end.

The Hen Harrier Action Plan and Trial, initiated by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in 2016, included the brood-management trial to raise Hen Harrier chicks in captivity and release them back into the wild.

The Hawk and Owl Trust has been involved in the initiative since 2016, supporting efforts to balance wildlife conservation with land management needs in upland England. The decision to withdraw follows a review of the project's outcomes and the latest available scientific evidence.