Working for wildlife
Latest news
The history of the White-tailed Eagle project to date
Explore the White-tailed Eagle news archives and milestone timeline with our new information page now live.
Additional releases of White-tailed Eagle in Exmoor this summer
The return of Britain’s largest bird of prey, White-tailed Eagles, to the South of England is to be boosted this year following approval on the 13th of May by Natural England, the Government’s wildlife licencing authority, for more of these iconic birds to be released.
Roy’s Blog – April 2026
Successful Wildlife Management with Local People and Rare Birds: Ospreys return for 2026, Roy’s trip South and progress for our latest project – restoring Montagu’s Harrier in England.
Established 1995
The Foundation was set-up by Roy Dennis in June 1995 and since then we have undertaken innovative species restoration work, been at forefront of bird migration research, and become a leading advocate for the restoration of natural ecosystems. We are a non-membership charitable trust dedicated to wildlife, with a special emphasis on species recovery projects and the restoration of natural ecosystems.
Nature restoration through species recovery
The Foundation works on the frontline of nature recovery to return species threatened by extinction or lost entirely to the UK.
Rutland Water Osprey Translocation
Red Squirrel population restoration in the Scottish Highlands
Reintroduction of White-tailed Eagle to Southern England
Images: Mike Crutch, Ainsley Bennet
Raptor translocation
The Foundation’s team of ornithologists are trained and experienced in delivering the specialist monitoring, management and raptor care required for raptor translocations, as well as holding all relevant licences and permissions for carrying out this work.
Species reintroduction
Carrying out professional feasibility studies considering all ecological and socio-economic impact of returning a lost species to Ecosystems in the UK and abroad, and delivering projects according to legislative standards.
Partnerships to restore wildlife at scale
The Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation is proud to work alongside many project partners including Forestry England and Exmoor National Park, providing specialist input to support wildlife restoration at scale.
Our project partners
The Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation Team
Dr Roy Dennis OBE
Founder & Honorary Director
Roy Dennis OBE is a field ornithologist and wildlife consultant, living in Moray; he has worked in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland since 1959, most notably on the conservation of rare birds and the reintroduction of lost species, such as the White-Tailed Eagle and Red Kite. Roy is still the president of the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Trust after multiple roles dating back to 1963. He is a specialist in raptor species recovery projects in the UK and abroad, and his satellite tracking research broke new ground in the 1990s. He is also a writer, broadcaster and lecturer, featuring on BBC Autumnwatch and Springwatch. He received an MBE for services to nature conservation in Scotland in 1992, and was voted as the Winner of the RSPB Golden Eagle Award in 2004.
Dr Tim Mackrill
Ornithologist & Conservation Director
Dr Tim Mackrill leads the Foundation’s work in England, including the White-tailed Eagle reintroduction based on the Isle of Wight and Osprey translocation at Poole Harbour in Dorset. He joined the Foundation in 2017 from the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust where he managed the Rutland Osprey Project, as well as other initiatives, including a successful water vole reintroduction. He completed a PhD on Osprey migration at the University of Leicester and is author of The Rutland Water Ospreys and RSPB Spotlight Ospreys. Tim is also Founder of the Osprey Leadership Foundation.
Zoe Smith
Ornithologist
Zoe joined the Foundation in 2021 with over a decade’s experience working in raptor conservation in the UK and internationally. She was elected to the board of the Raptor Research Foundation in 2022.
Some of her career highlights in Eurasia have included working in Dadia National Park on Cinereous, Griffon and Egyptian vultures; raptor count supervisor at the Strait of Messina in Italy for Ornis Italica; and counting at raptor migration bottle necks: Batumi Raptor Count in the Republic of Georgia and at Khoa Dinsor in Thailand.
Naomi Johns
Ornithologist
Naomi joined the Foundation in 2025 with 9 years of experience in Raptor care and conservation project management through her previous role with The Bird of Prey Project. Her career highlights so far include establishing a raptor rehabilitation facility, monitoring Kestrel and Owl populations in Somerset and studying wild Honey Buzzards in the UK.