A Landscape shaped by History and Nature

The Forest of Bowland, a 775 sq km (300 sq miles) national landscape, presents a unique blend of natural beauty and human influence. While much of the area opened to walkers in September 2004 under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, access remains limited, benefiting the region’s delicate ecosystems. The Act granted public access to “access land” for open-air recreation on foot, but manny upland areas are boggy, making them accessible only to the most intrepid explorers.

this limited access,coupled with relatively low visitor numbers,has proven beneficial for nature conservation. A significant portion of Bowland is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, safeguarding crucial habitats and internationally important bird populations.

Hen Harriers and Other Avian Wonders

Bowland is particularly renowned for its hen harriers and merlins. The latter, the UK’s smallest bird of prey, is about the size of a thrush. According to Sonja Ludwig, RSPB species and habitats officer for the Forest of Bowland, these birds are creatures of habit. They’re ‘traditional’ birds,” she says. “They tend to come back to more or less the same place.We always see them here. Rookies always notice the males first. Their plumage, white rump and the black tips on the wings are unmistakable.

Hen harriers are sometimes nicknamed “gray ghosts” or “ghosts of the moor”.

During a visit, a peregrine falcon was also spotted, returning to a nesting area. Witnessing the fastest bird in the world – capable of 240mph during a hunting dive – slowing down to salute its mate was special.

Other species observed include meadow pipits,skylarks,curlews,a stonechat,and a greylag goose. The highlight was the sighting of a couple of ring ouzels, a red-listed member of the thrush family.

Bowland also hosts a large colony of lesser black-backed gulls, making the UK an internationally significant territory for this species.

The Complexities of Grouse Shooting

Driven grouse shooting, a contentious practice, occurs in parts of Bowland between August and December. This pastime sparks debate among conservationists due to the illegal killing of raptors in areas with frequent shoots. In late 2024, a female hen harrier disappeared “in suspicious circumstances” despite being fitted with a satellite tag.

While Bowland has a long history as a hunting area, the grouse-hunting buisness began in the middle of the 19th century. The management of the fells for the rearing of the shooters’ targets – little red grouse – has shaped the Bowland we see today.

A Man-Made landscape with Moments of Wildness

Past records, including JMW Turner’s sketches from 1816, reveal that the landscape has long been shaped by human activity. These sketches depict bare-topped fells and few native trees, indicating that most upland trees were likely felled with the arrival of agriculture thousands of years ago.

Bowland offers moments of wildness in a man-made landscape. Visiting it is indeed a way of staking a claim on behalf of the region’s most vulnerable inhabitants – the raptors.

A memorable experience was witnessing a male hen harrier perform a sky dance. Against a big, clear-blue backdrop and above a patch of chocolate-coloured heather were a female lurked, he shot upwards and began to pirouette, and then fall, and then flip, and twist and, frankly, show off like billyo – to impress her, to warn younger males to stay away and, perhaps, because flying like that must feel just ace.

Explore Bowland

For those interested in exploring the Forest of Bowland, resources are available to plan your visit. The Eco Escapes guide offers suggestions for car-free visits, and the Discover Bowland guide features all-terrain wheelchair walks.