Lindisfarne reserve sees 12-fold increase in little tern fledglings
A nature reserve in Northumberland is reporting a significant recovery in little tern populations after implementing protective measures. According to Andrew Craggs, senior manager at Lindisfarne national nature reserve, the number of little tern fledglings rose from 15 in 2020 to 201 in 2025, a more than 12-fold increase, while the number of breeding pairs grew from 25 to 138. The reserve staff have erected 3 miles of netted fences across eight patches to protect ground-nesting birds, and seasonal wardens educate visitors about keeping dogs on leads and avoiding fenced areas. The measures are funded by the EU Life fund, and the team includes Tony Juniper, chair of Natural England, and Ginny Swaile, Natural England’s deputy director for Northumbria. The reserve sees up to a million visitors each year, and Juniper noted that higher car ownership and more outdoor activity contribute to disturbance for sensitive species.
What’s reported
Little tern breeding abundance in the UK dropped 19% between 1986 and 2024; Arctic terns fell 25%, common terns 63% (British Trust for Ornithology data).
At Lindisfarne in 2020, 25 pairs of little terns produced 15 fledglings; in 2025, 138 pairs produced 201 fledglings.
The reserve covers 3,500 hectares (8,600 acres) and includes sand dunes, saltmarsh, and mudflats.
Protective fences are 3 miles (5km) long in eight patches; they are electrifiable and allow terns and plovers to pass but exclude predators and people.
Seasonal wardens are funded by the EU Life fund for the breeding season (spring to end of summer).
Threats include rising sea levels, coastal flooding from climate change, and human disturbance from rising car ownership and outdoor activity.
Key figures
Andrew Craggs, senior manager at Lindisfarne national nature reserve
Ginny Swaile, Natural England’s deputy director for Northumbria
Tony Juniper, chair of Natural England
Sources: The Guardian
