Red kites breed in North East England for the first time for 170 years.

15/03/2007 00:00:00 August 2006. Red Kites have bred in North East England after a gap of more than 170 years. The Project to reintroduce the kites, a partnership between English Nature, the RSPB, Gateshead Council, Northumbrian Water, the National Trust and Forestry Commission, is in the 3rd year of a release programme, designed to re-establish kites in what was once their natural habitat. A pair of kites, ‘Flag’ and ‘Red Philip’, who were released in 2004, laid a clutch of eggs in the Derwent Walk County Park (less close to the Gateshead Metrocenre) and in two chicks hatched.

Lord Clark, Chairman of the Forestry Commission, said: ‘This is fantastic news for the North East, the Red Kite is an impressive and distinctive bird and it is great to have it back in our skies. We are looking forward to this well-loved species nesting in woodlands in the area and for kites to become a regular sight for local people to enjoy.’

Courtesy of the Forestry Commission.