Recent studies of upland vegetation change have shown good results for breeding birds. Over the last 10 years the Woodland Trust have facilitated two long term studies of Tebay Gill, Tebay and Moasdale, Duddon to look at the impacts of habitat change on birds. Both sites in the study were fenced, sheep-free exclosures, where trees and scrub had been planted and maintained to encourage vegetation change under a Higher Level Stewardship agreement.
The Tebay Gill enclosure was installed and trees planted from 2014 and was first surveyed for breeding birds in 2016 – when just 4 breeding species were recorded. Repeat bird surveys every year since 2021 have revealed breeding behaviour in an additional 13 species as the ungrazed ground flora has developed and planted trees have established. Eight of these species are red listed because of recent or historical declines, including birds subject to intense conservation efforts such as cuckoo and black grouse. At Moasdale there was an increase from 5 breeding bird species present in the first survey year to 11 in 2025. Bird territories at both sites have also significantly increased, more than trebling in Tebay and increasing 5 fold in Moasdale.
As well as the success stories for red listed species, and a recorded black grouse nesting attempt at Tebay, the habitat is also supporting species who are struggling to cope with climate change in the south east including willow warbler, lesser redpoll, and reed bunting, providing much needed space for species to move north to cooler environments.
You can read the full report for Tebay here: Tebay breeding bird survey 2025
