Our Vision
Hen Harrier Action’s vision is that the UK’s uplands should be places where nature thrives unharmed by human activity. Places where people can enjoy a rich and diverse environment in harmony with nature rather than in conflict with it. Our vision will have been achieved when Hen Harrier Days become days entirely of celebration: of the return of the hen harrier to its rightful places, of birds and other animals flourishing where they should, and of a natural balance for all to enjoy when visiting our hills and moors.
We want our uplands:
to be places where wildlife thrives. Unsustainable management over the centuries has too often made them ecological deserts, whether from industrial pollution, agricultural intensification , overstocking for sport. This must change, and our vision requires action by many people to bring wildlife back to the uplands.
to be free from persecution. We want to see people and wildlife living in harmony. That means an end to illegal persecution, especially of birds of prey, and culls and control of native wildlife.
to be better places for public enjoyment. Many millions of people visit the countryside every year but are not always aware of what is missing, or of how much greater a part nature could play in their experience of the uplands. We want to show how it could be different and win hearts and minds for change.
to benefit from informed and ambitious public policy. Creating sustainable upland environments has not been a focus of policy in the past, but to help deal with climate change, clear-minded and purposeful intervention is now needed, bringing wins for both nature and for people.
Hen Harrier Action’s vision extends beyond the uplands. We want wildlife crime, wherever it occurs, to quickly become a thing of the past.
Our objectives
Hen Harrier Action is a registered charity. It is also, like many charities, established as a company limited by guarantee.
Hen Harrier Action’s charitable objects are:
- to promote conservation of the hen harrier (Circus cyaneus), in particular its protection from illegal persecution. The hen harrier is a red-listed Bird of Conservation Concern.
- alongside and in support of its principle objective: to promote the conservation and better protection of other raptors threatened by illegal persecution; to promote biodiversity in the areas, particularly the uplands, where hen harriers and other raptors are found; to raise awareness of activities in such areas which are damaging to the hen harrier, to raptors and other animals or to the environment more generally; and to increase public awareness of wildlife crime and its prevention.
- thereby to bring wider benefit to the environment, to wildlife, and to public enjoyment of nature, especially in the uplands.
Hen Harrier Action aim to achieve these charitable objects by
- holding public events,
- supporting such events held by others,
- undertaking campaigns,
public education and lobbying, and - disseminating research and information.
The full version of our Memorandum and Articles of Association is here
Our Values
Hen Harrier Action is a charity working for a better environment with more wildlife for people to enjoy, especially in our uplands, with animals able to live their lives there alongside us, free of persecution and suffering caused by humans. In consequence it aspires to these values in the way it works. We will:
- always have benefit for nature as the key determinant of our actions. Most of our activities involve working with people and not directly in nature, but we will always judge what we do by the simple question: “Will this help nature?”
- always seek to be inclusive of all: we respect people, value diversity and are committed to equality; and we will actively seek to broaden engagement with our aims.
- be neither party political nor sectarian. Our issues can be highly political, but we will not translate any of our views or actions into specific party or other affiliations.
- abide by the law. We believe in lawful protest and recognise that civil disobedience can sometimes be morally justified. But we do not condone it in our cause not least because one of our demands is that others should abide by the law too.
- seek to work in ways that are good for people and the planet. We will be active in encouraging Hen Harrier Days to be more sustainable and to improve our own practices as a charity.
- respect all with whom we work, seeking to set high standards in the quality and effectiveness of what we do, working collectively and seeking feedback on how we are doing.
- work with integrity, honesty and transparency.