Cranes return to the UK due to rewilding effort in Somerset

According to the RSPB, at least 80% of the breeding population are now found on protected sites, with a third on RSPB reserves alone, including its West Sedgemoor reserve in Somerset and Lakenheath Fen in Suffolk.

Over in Gloucestershire, Geoff Hilton, head of wetland evidence at Slimbridge, said in 2010 they were the ones to take crane eggs and hatch them.

“We were up all night, trying to get these birds to hatch,” he said.

“It was a phenomenal effort.”

Once they were hatched, they were released on the Somerset Levels.

“There’s lots more work to do but they are a pleasure to enjoy at the moment,” Hilton said.