The decline of the barn owl is attributed to several factors including the loss of suitable habitat, which limits the availability of hunting grounds; the use of rodenticides; road traffic collision; and the loss of traditional nesting sites.

To address their decline nationally, agri-environmental schemes are supporting barn owls by the funding of habitat creation, such as rough grassland for hunting, and by supporting the provision of nest boxes in suitable locations.

Environmental land management schemes include financial incentives for actions that are beneficial for barn owls, for example, the provision of nesting boxes. Through the Green Recovery Challenge Fund, the Government granted £123,700 to the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust’s Owl Box Initiative. The project was set up to help support barn owls by providing nest boxes for them on farms and researching barn owls’ farmland habitat use across the southwest of England.

Furthermore, from July this year, restrictions on the open use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides will be brought into force to avoid negative impacts on non-target species such as barn owls.

We have no records of any actions for this species specific to the Romford area.

Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs) were developed to address public health and other concerns arising from increasing resistance among rats and mice to the longstanding use of existing rodenticides. The approval for these substances was renewed under EU Biocidal Products Regulations (EU BPR) in 2016, and are now regulated under corresponding regulations, the Great Britain Biocidal Products Regulation (GB BPR). During the product authorisation process, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) conducts rigorous evaluations for safety and efficacy using scientific data, with restrictions placed on authorisations as appropriate.

A stewardship regime is in place in the UK for professional use of SGARs. A cornerstone of the stewardship scheme is the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU) Code of Best Practice, which sets out guidance on the safe use of rodenticides. It is a legal requirement to comply with this code. The scheme also supports the monitoring of exposure of barn owls and red kites to SGARs (as a sentinel species) led by the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH). Alongside the stewardship scheme, restrictions are placed on non-professional (“amateur”) use of rodenticides to further limit the risks to non-target animals and birds. Rodenticide use by amateur users is restricted to use in and around buildings, with the majority of amateur use restricted to indoor use only.

The stewardship scheme is overseen by a Government Oversight Group (GOG) led by HSE with representatives of other government stakeholders. This year the GOG is conducting a review of the stewardship scheme, including the restrictions placed on amateur use, after five years of operation. HSE is aware of the key findings of the latest report from the CEH, and these will be taken into account as part of the ongoing review, the results of which will be published in due course.

The State of UK Birds report provides the latest population trends for all the UK’s bird species.

The population estimate for barn owl in the most recent report was 4,000 – 14,000 breeding pairs in 2016. The BTO’s Nest Record Scheme shows the species is widely distributed across Great Britain. There has been no specific assessment about the welfare of England’s wild barn owl population.

HS2 Ltd has undertaken extensive wildlife surveys across the route, which includes barn owls. In addition, HS2 Ltd has a Barn Owl Mitigation Plan (developed after consultation with wildlife groups including the RSPB) to ensure that best practice guidelines are followed to minimise any adverse effects of HS2 on barn owls and maximise potential benefits.

HS2 Ltd has been working closely with stakeholders and experts to develop the barn owl mitigation plan, which they plan to publish early this year.

HS2 Ltd’s Barn Owl Mitigation Plan has not been published to date.

HS2 Ltd has produced a barn owl mitigation plan to manage and reduce the anticipated significant effects to barn owls caused by construction and operation of the Phase One scheme. The plan has been developed by a team of professional ecologists, including a barn owl expert, and has been informed by additional research undertaken by the British Trust for Ornithology.

The plan assumes that 80 pairs are affected by the Phase One scheme and consists of measures to: avoid disturbance to the species during construction; reduce the collision risk of the railway to the birds; provide new artificial nesting sites at a safe distance from the railway; and monitor the new nesting sites to ensure uptake by barn owls.

It is expected that the barn owl mitigation plan will be expanded and refined for future phases of HS2.

The impact of HS2 on barn owls was assessed to inform the Phase One Environmental Statement which recorded a nationally significant adverse effect on the UK’s barn owl population.

HS2 Ltd has therefore developed a barn owl mitigation plan to reduce this significant effect. The plan assumes that 80 pairs are affected by the Phase One Scheme and consists of measures to: avoid disturbance to the species during construction; reduce the collision risk of the railway to the birds; provide new artificial nesting sites at a safe distance; and monitor the new nesting sites to ensure uptake by barn owls.

The potential effects on barn owls have also been assessed in the Phase 2a Environmental Statement, and will be assessed in a Phase 2b Environmental Statement in due course.

Established guidance exists on how to help our native bat species including the provision of bat boxes to provide bats with alternative resting places or to encourage bats into areas where there are few existing suitable roost sites. Further guidance can be accessed through the Bat Conservation Trust: www.bats.org.uk.

Wildlife boxes (for bats and certain bird species including barn owls) can also be funded through the Countryside Stewardship scheme on eligible land where it would be beneficial for the species.

The Barn Owl was surveyed as part of the British Trust for Ornithology 2007-11 Bird Atlas for Britain and Ireland and populations are also monitored annually by the BTO/Joint Nature Conservation Committee/Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Consequently Defra has no present plans to repeat these surveys.

Surveys suggest that the Barn Owl was declining during much of the twentieth century. However the 2007-11 Bird Atlas indicates a 67% increase in distribution since the last atlas for 1988-91. In addition the annual Breeding Bird Survey indicates that numbers increased by 277% in the UK between 1995 and 2012 and 273% for England. The increase is believed to result from the provision of nest boxes, mild winters and the sympathetic management of suitable feeding habitat through agri-environment schemes.

Population estimates for the five regularly occurring owls in the UK are published independently by the British Trust for Ornithology. The most recent estimates are set out as follows. Estimates for little owl and tawny owl are considered more reliable than for the other three species.

All wild birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and it is an offence to kill or injure any wild bird and to take, damage or destroy their nests or eggs. In addition to this strict legal protection, measures are being taken to improve habitats occupied by owls.

Agri-environment schemes such as Environmental Stewardship are the principal means of improving habitats and the wider environment on farmland in England. Farmers receive funding to manage the cropped environment and provide additional habitats on their farms for birds and other wildlife. Activities currently funded by Environmental Stewardship of benefit to owls include: the establishment of grassy margins and buffer strips and the management of field corners, which can provide additional habitat for prey species, such as small mammals; the restoration of traditional farm buildings, which can provide both shelter and nesting sites; and the provision of nest boxes.

DEFRA has not made an assessment of the effect of the use of rat poisons on the barn owl population. However, levels of rodenticides are monitored via the Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme and the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme investigates deaths of wildlife where pesticides are implicated. I am aware of the risks posed by secondary poisoning and this is why it is important to use rodenticides lawfully and in accordance with all the conditions.

I am not aware of a recent study by the Barn Owl Trust into the presence in barn owls of rat poison. However, levels of rodenticides are monitored via the Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme and the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme investigates deaths of wildlife where pesticides are implicated. I am aware of the risks posed by secondary poisoning and this is why it is important to use rodenticides lawfully and in accordance with all the conditions.