Cumbrian White-Tailed Eagle Project Stakeholder Questionnaire

Background information

White-tailed eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla, also known as ‘sea eagles’) went extinct in Britain in 1918. Reintroductions started in the 1970s and have since reinstated subpopulations in Ireland, Isle of Wight and Scotland. A reintroduced population in Cumbria would act as a stepping stone population within a wider British Isles network and could result in ecological, economic and social benefits locally.

The Cumbrian White-Tailed Eagle Project (CWTEP) is led by The Lifescape Project charity and supported by a steering group including the University of Cumbria, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, RSPB, the Wildland Research Institute, Lake District National Park Authority, the National Trust, and local estate owners and managers. The steering group would support a reintroduction if the conditions are right – if there is an area in Cumbria where white-tailed eagles can live, if it’s practically possible, and if local people are accepting of the bird back in the landscape.

Our ecological research has shown that Cumbria and the surrounding areas (the ‘project region’) has suitable habitat for white-tailed eagles as well as plenty of food, and that reintroduced birds would be able to grow into a healthy population. Wider ecological assessments and heritage impact assessments are ongoing.

Over a 13-month period, the project listened to people’s opinions on a white-tailed eagle reintroduction via questionnaires, community workshops, interviews and focus groups.

Over 24,800 people were engaged and consulted in the social consultation process. 2,392 people completed the individual questionnaire, with 1,938 of these respondents living in the project region. Our results from the individual questionnaire show that overall, there is a high level of support (78%) and positive attitudes towards a white-tailed eagle reintroduction amongst individuals within the project region. For more detail, please read the CWTEP Social Consultation Report.

The next step is to collect and collate organisational views from stakeholder groups.

Participant information

This questionnaire is being distributed for the purpose of the Cumbrian White-Tailed Eagle Project’s social consultation. The objective of this questionnaire is to understand the anticipated impacts and key considerations for a white-tailed eagle reintroduction into Cumbria.

We are looking for representatives from stakeholder organisations to complete the questionnaire and we would like to invite you on behalf of your organisation to take part. It is recommended that you organise a meeting with a member from the Cumbrian White-Tailed Eagle Project Steering Group before doing so.

This questionnaire should take approximately 20 minutes to complete. It involves nine questions split into two sections on information about your organisation and impacts of a white-tailed eagle reintroduction in Cumbria. You will be asked what your organisation thinks the main impacts of a white-tailed eagle reintroduction in Cumbria would be and what considerations your organisation feels should be addressed in the project planning process for any future white-tailed eagle reintroduction. There is also space for additional comments towards the end of the questionnaire.

Participation in this study is voluntary and you can leave the questionnaire at any time by clicking the ‘x’ button in the top right of the screen. If you leave the questionnaire none of your data will be collected.

The data collected will be used in a detailed analysis to investigate views on a white-tailed eagle reintroduction to Cumbria by interest group organisations. This research was approved by The Lifescape Project’s Research Ethics committee (Reference LPREC27/08/24). The name of your organisation may be included in a list of organisations who have responded to the questionnaire. However, names of organisations and answers to this questionnaire will NOT be published together in any output. The benefits are to assist in understanding whether an eagle reintroduction is socially feasible or not, and if any particular conditions would need to be met.

If you would like a copy of this information, have any questions about the questionnaire or would like to withdraw your questionnaire after completion, please contact The Lifescape Project’s Species Recovery Social Science Officer - Faye Whiley at faye.whiley@lifescapeproject.org

For answers to questions regarding a particular matter about the questionnaire or participants’ rights, or register a complaint, please contact the Director of Nature Restoration at The Lifescape Project – Dr Deborah Brady at Deborah.brady@lifescapeproject.org

Please only complete this questionnaire if you agree to the following statements:

I confirm I have read and understood the information above.

I understand that participation is voluntary and that I am free to withdraw at any time without giving a reason

I understand that responses are anonymised, however the name of the organisation may be included in a list of organisations who have responded to the questionnaire. I give permission for The Lifescape Project team to have access to the responses, and I understand these anonymised responses may be published within a journal.

I understand that the anonymised responses may be uploaded to a data repository. I understand the data is stored in accordance with Lifescape GDPR Policy (available by request).

I agree to take part in the questionnaire and I confirm the responses I give in this questionnaire are reflective of the organisation I work for, and not my personal views. *

Please check this box if you have read and agree to the statements above and understand by completing this questionnaire you are providing informed consent.

Please check the box below to confirm you understand the disclosure of information. The name of the organisation may be included in a list of organisations who have responded to the questionnaire. However, names of organisations and answers to this questionnaire will NOT be published together in any output. *

I understand the disclosure of information. The name of the organisation may be included in a list of organisations who have responded to the questionnaire.