Farne Islands to reopen after two-year closure

The Farne Islands in Northumberland will reopen to visitors this month, having been shut off to visitors for two years due to bird flu.

Inner Farne will open in later on in March, but Staple Island is to remain closed. Boat skippers who offer day trips say the closure has had a big impact on their business.

In 2022, more than 6,000 seabirds died from avian flu across the islands, followed by about half that number in 2023.

Arctic Tern is one species that has been severely impacted by bird flu on the Farnes (Pierre Montieth).

PPE birding

Teams of rangers, who live and work on the islands, had to wear full personal protective equipment (PPE) to remove the birds so they could be incinerated.

Area ranger Sophia Jackson said: "It seems that the disease has declined in our birds, although we will continue to closely monitor them as the breeding season starts again."

Visitor boats will be able to land on Inner Farne from 25 March.