Q&A: 80 farms a month to enter Hen Harrier Programme

The first 80 farmers, with 4,134 hectares designated for breeding hen harrier, have been selected from expressions of interest submitted in December, writes Stephen Cadogan.

They are in all six Special Protection Areas. A further 80 are being selected from the remaining December applications, and those submitted in January. This process will continue for at least a year, with an average of 80 farms a month entering the programme.