South Scotland Golden Eagle Project Needs Extra Funding to Fly

An award-winning pioneering charity initiative, which has successfully restored a previously low population of golden eagles in the south of Scotland to record numbers, has launched an urgent public appeal to help secure its long-term future and put plans in place to reintroduce golden eagles to other areas of the UK where golden eagles are currently extinct.

The South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project was initially due to conclude this year, but the project team and its long-standing partners have developed bold new plans to harness their unprecedented success to address the nature-climate crisis facing the UK. However, as the Project’s current funding runs out at the end of this year, the initiative faces the imminent threat of needing to wind down unless £400k can be raised.

The project team revealed today (Monday 9 September) that they plan to launch as a standalone charity named RUN (Restoring Upland Nature) in 2025, so that other areas of the UK where the vitally important species has been missing for generations can benefit from their groundbreaking learnings and techniques.

The latest fundraising appeal, which was launched at the Moffat Golden Eagle Festival (Europe’s only golden eagle festival, which was coordinated by the Project), is being supported by stars of screen (including Springwatch presenter Iolo Williams and Vikings: Valhalla actor David Oakes), conservationists, raptor workers, land managers, game keepers, previous funders and project partners who have been pivotal in supporting the first phase of the project.

Launching the appeal, Project Chair Michael Clarke said: “The UK is facing an unprecedented nature-climate crisis, and restoration projects like ours are now more important than ever to reverse biodiversity decline. We have had incredible success in the south of Scotland thanks to the support of community, partners and funders. With enough new public donations, we can take these learnings to restore this iconic species to other areas of the UK.

“There has been incredible excitement at our initial success, with golden eagles thriving across southern skies, and communities across the region benefitting environmentally, socially and culturally. We’d love to keep this momentum going, but the public appeal we have launched today is absolutely crucial to making this a reality.”

Project Manager Dr Cat Barlow added: “We have great plans to build on and extend our groundbreaking work so that other parts of the UK benefit from the return of golden eagles. But we can only do this with public support. Our current funding runs out at the end of this year, and we will need to wind down very soon unless we can raise more funds.

“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has, and can, support the vital work to restore golden eagles to the areas they once thrived. Every donation made will play a key part in reversing the UK’s biodiversity decline and ensuring current and future generations across the UK can experience that incredible sense of excitement – and hope – on seeing golden eagles soar.”

Welsh Springwatch TV presenter Iolo Williams, who is a supporter of the project and a previous keynote speaker at the Moffat Eagle Festival said: “When I think of all the birds I’d love to see in Wales once more, I have to say top of my list would be the golden eagle. It became extinct in Wales around 400 years ago and in the last 30 years they became extinct in England as well. But thankfully the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project has reintroduced golden eagles back to an area of Scotland where they were just down to a handful of pairs and it is really exciting to see what is going on. Hopefully soon they will be back in England and who knows maybe in my kids’ lifetime they’ll be back in Wales. But that is only if this exciting project can continue. They’re running out of money and need your help. They need to raise that money as soon as possible. So if you can, please donate money to the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project, a brilliant project. Imagine looking up to the skies in the north of England and Wales and seeing golden eagles back to where they belong.”

Star of Netflix’s Vikings Valhalla and producer of the Trees A Crowd environmental podcast, David Oakes said: “It would be phenomenal if the team behind the South of Scotland Golden Eagle project could replicate their outstanding success in other parts of the UK. Golden eagles, beyond being such awe-inspiring creatures, are apex predators – crucial to maintaining the balance of our natural ecosystems. The tragic decline of this iconic species only underlines the critical importance of supporting the brilliant work of this irreplaceable project. So, I encourage each of you to contribute to this cause, to help reverse biodiversity loss and be part of something historic.”

Using a range of pioneering techniques and a unique partnership approach, the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project has already restored a previously low population in the south of Scotland to record numbers. Only six years ago, there were fewer than 10 eagles in the area: today, there are nearly 50 – that’s the highest number the region has seen for over 300 years.

Speaking about the Project’s success, Francesca Osowska, NatureScot’s Chief Executive, said: “The South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project has inspired so many people – including me! – boosting the number of eagles in the region enormously over the last six years. It is a brilliant example of partnership working between land managers, conservation and government agencies, and we thank everyone involved for their continued hard work and determination.

“We’re passionate about returning golden eagles to the places where they used to thrive. With wildlife declining across the globe, this project is a vital part of the work taking place across Scotland to reverse nature loss and tackle the climate emergency.”

Previously funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), NatureScot, RSPB Scotland, Scottish Land & Estates, Scottish Forestry, Southern Uplands Partnership and the Scottish Government, the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project was a key initiative under ‘Scotland’s Biodiversity. A Route Map to 2020’, supporting the Government’s ‘2020 Challenge for Scotland’s Biodiversity’. Original partners RSPB Scotland, Scottish Land & Estates, Scottish Forestry, NatureScot and the Southern Uplands Partnership, worked on the project together for more than 11 years before releasing the first eagle chicks in 2018. Winning numerous awards, the project has been celebrated by ecologists, conservationists and representatives for lands and estates across the UK as an outstanding example of good practice. A key element of the project’s success is their unique approach to partnership working, led by the established project team, working closely with a diverse range of partners and community representatives uniting under the shared vision to restore the golden eagle population. This partnership approach has achieved great international acclaim.

To help secure the future of the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project as it becomes RUN (Restoring Upland Nature), you can donate, or register your interest in becoming a supporting partner, via: goldeneaglessouthofscotland.co.uk (if donating, please specify that you would like your donation to go to RUN).