Campaigners are preparing for a major legal battle that could determine the future of rewilding and habitat restoration in the UK.
They are from Lynx UK Trust, which has been campaigning for eight years to bring lynx back to Britain, where they were hunted to extinction over 1,300 years ago. The Trust argues that restoring native apex predators is essential if the UK’s dying woodland ecosystems are ever to recover. Now, the campaign has reached a critical moment.
The Trust has launched a Judicial Review against Natural England, after Natural England refused to review not only their current lynx licence application, but any future application at all.
Natural England claims that granting a licence would breach the Dangerous Wild Animals Act. However, the Trust’s legal team Richard Buxton Solicitors and barrister Richard Turney KC strongly disagree.
Campaigners say the situation is deeply contradictory. While the Head of Natural England has publicly expressed enthusiasm for lynx reintroduction and suggested it could happen within two years, the organisation is now blocking all licence applications, leaving no legal route to bring lynx back to the UK.
They warn this decision has far-reaching consequences. As it stands, campaigners warn this could significantly limit future rewilding efforts in the UK.
With public support for lynx reintroduction consistently high, campaigners say there is now no choice but to fight this in court. They describe the case as a pivotal legal challenge that will decide whether meaningful rewilding is possible in the UK at all.
The Trust is asking supporters to help fund this legal challenge and ensure the courts can properly examine Natural England’s position.
Support the legal challenge to bring lynx back to the UK
Latest: Jan. 20, 2026
GOVERNMENT SUED FOR REFUSING TO REVIEW ANY LYNX APPLICATION
Lynx were hunted to extinction in the UK 1300 years ago for the fur trade. We aim to right this wrong and reintroduce them back to the UK where they rightfully belong, breathing life back into our woodland ecosystems
The UK is one of the least biodiverse countries in the world and our woodland and forest ecosystems are dying. Without Apex predators such as lynx, natural forest regeneration simply cannot occur. Lynx are a native species in the UK and were once found from the North of Scotland to the South of England. Our project aims to conduct a trial release of lynx into Kielder forest, Northumberland, to bring the beautiful lynx back home.
It is a sad fact that the UK is one of the only countries in the world without an apex predator. We are launching legal work to bring lynx back home to the UK where they once roamed. Please contribute now and share this page with your friends, family and on social media.
Case Background
The Lynx UK Trust have been campaigning to bring the Lynx back to the UK for the past 8 years. The political landscape and public awareness has now changed hugely in our favour. Thankfully, the Head of the Government’s Wildlife Regulator has said he remains enthusiastic about reintroducing lynx to Britain and would be “absolutely delighted” if it could be achieved during his two-year term. The time is right and we are now determined and ready to deliver this project.
After a UK wide scoping process, we have identified Kielder forest in Northumberland as the perfect place to bring lynx back to. It is the largest single forest block in the UK and has an extremely high density of roe deer. Lynx reintroduction has been debated for the past 30 years and it is now time for the talking to stop and the project to happen.
The story has been widely covered in the press such as The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Independent, BBC and ITV news and National Geographic.
There is overwhelming public support for this project as people become more and more aware of the biodiversity and climate crisis that faces us. We need healthy and resilient ecosystems and that is impossible without the balancing presence of Apex predators such as lynx.
Our legal action
This is the most ambitious and exciting Rewilding project in the UK. It can be done, but we need your help to make it happen. Legal work is involved at all stages of the process and will allow us to achieve the following;
- Submit a robust application that complies with national and international policy.
- Secure the required permits and licenses require to bring and release lynx back into the UK.
- Ensure the strict legal protection of any lynx that are released.
How much we’re raising and why
We aim to initially raise £10,000 and will keep you updated with all progress in the case. Any funds left over will go directly to the ongoing work of the Lynx UK Trust.
There is no time to lose; our forests are dying and we need lynx back now. We have waited long enough.
Please help us; donate, share, and follow the campaign at:
https://www.facebook.com/lynxuktrust/
