THE future of one of England's most beautiful birds of prey is under threat from landowners burning nesting sites, wildlife campaigners warned last night.

Seven hen harrier breeding females raised 22 chicks last year but the breed could become extinct because of the fires, said English Nature.

Burning is traditionally conducted in moorland areas to stimulate heather growth for sheep and red grouse. Harriers, which eat red grouse, are often persecuted by landowners and gamekeepers.

English Nature said that at least one of this year's two burns in the North Pennines targeted last year's nest site, to prevent the birds resettling.

The North Pennine Moors special protection area is the largest in the country, stretching from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, to Carlisle, in Cumbria.

At Bowland Fells, Lancashire, an uncontrolled fire burned the birds' most important nesting area, destroying two active nests.

Sir Martin Doughty, chairman of English Nature, said: "This is dreadful news. Hen harriers use mature heather as a cover and protection when building their nests and raising their young. It is unlikely they will settle and nest in these newly-burnt areas."

Last summer, English Nature launched a programme to save the harriers, working with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to protect two chicks hatched on its reserve at Geltsdale, on the Durham and Northumberland border. Six chicks were also hatched at a secret location in the Yorkshire Dales.