A BREEDING ground for rare birds could have been damaged in a fire which swept across 250 hectares of land in the Trough of Bowland last weekend, say nature experts.

Dry conditions resulted in planned heather-burning by tenant farmers raged almost out of control on Bowland Fell, part of the North Pennine Moors Special Protection Area.

English Nature claims the fire has damaged two hen harrier nesting spots and says the future of the bird of prey is now at greater risk than ever as only a handful of breeding pairs are left in the UK.

Heather burning is used to stimulate the growth of new heather for sheep and red grouse and the burning season ends today.

Hen harriers prefer to nest in sites where heather can provide protection and cover before laying a cluster of eggs. They usually return to the same nesting site every year.

English Nature has started a programme to monitor the birds as they are at risk of becoming extinct in the next few years.

English Nature chairman Martin Doughty said: "This is dreadful news. Hen harriers use mature heather as cover and protection when building their nests and raising their young and return each year to traditional nest sites.

"It is unlikely they will settle and nest in these newly-burnt areas without deep heather cover.

"The sites where the hen harriers nested last year were well-known to many people so it is disappointing that heather has been burned in these areas."

A spokesman for the Moorland Association said: "This was not a fire set by moorland keepers, who have a carefully controlled burning programme. Most people have not been burning at all for the last few weeks because of the very dry weather."

A spokesman for United Utilities, which owns the land, said: "The fire did disturb two pairs of birds which were either prospecting or nesting. We hope as it's so early in the season there's a chance they will move to a new site.

"We have very good relationships with English Nature and the RSPB working with the hen harriers."

Anyone who has seen a hen harrier in England this spring should call English Nature's hen harrier project officer Richard Saunders on 01539 792800.