Commenting on the decision by Natural England to license the reintroduction of white-tailed sea eagles to the Island, Debbie Tann, Chief Executive of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, said:

“This could be a great leap towards a much wilder future for the Island.  The sight of this iconic eagle around the southern English coast cannot fail to inspire people and encourage the kind of love for wildlife which will be vital if we are going to tip the balance in favour of nature’s recovery.  

We have been clear that this programme must help not hinder our area’s existing wonderful wildlife and we have been impressed with the work undertaken by the project team to date.  We look forward to working together to ensure that this initiative brings real and tangible benefits for the Island's wildlife and local communities.”