Lindisfarne reserve’s fences and wardens boost little tern breeding success
At Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve in Northumberland, protective measures including electrifiable netted fences and seasonal wardens have helped little tern breeding numbers increase more than 12-fold from 2020 to 2025, according to a Guardian report. Senior manager Andrew Craggs and his team erected 3 miles of short, perforated and electrifiable netted fences in eight patches across the reserve to protect ground-nesting birds from disturbance. The reserve hosts little terns, Arctic terns, common terns, and ringed plovers. UK little tern breeding abundance dropped 19% between 1986 and 2024, while Arctic terns fell 25% and common terns dropped 63% over the same period, according to the British Trust for Ornithology’s Seabird Monitoring Project. The main threat to the birds is human disturbance, with up to a million people visiting the reserve each year. Seasonal wardens funded by the EU Life fund educate visitors and keep dogs on leads. In 2020, 25 pairs of little terns produced 15 fledglings; in 2025, 138 pairs produced 201 fledglings. Tony Juniper, chair of Natural England, said protecting the birds also supports the regional economy.
What’s reported
Little terns at Lindisfarne: 2020 had 25 pairs producing 15 fledglings; 2025 had 138 pairs producing 201 fledglings (more than a 12-fold increase).
The reserve is 3,500 hectares (8,600 acres) of sand dunes, saltmarsh, and mudflats.
3 miles (5km) of electrifiable netted fences were erected in eight patches across the reserve.
UK little tern breeding abundance dropped 19% between 1986 and 2024; Arctic terns down 25%; common terns down 63%.
Up to a million people visit Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve each year.
Seasonal wardens are funded by the EU Life fund for the breeding season from spring to end of summer.
The main threat is human disturbance from rising visitor numbers, car ownership, outdoor activity, and dogs.
Key figures
Andrew Craggs, senior manager at Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve
Ginny Swaile, deputy director for Northumbria at Natural England
Tony Juniper, chair of Natural England
Sources: The Guardian
