This is a very important update. We are pleased to say that on 4^th March 2026, the High Court has ordered a full hearing of our claim by the Lynx UK Trust against Natural England and the Secretary of State. We are arguing that Natural England has acted unlawfully in their approach to our licence application for the release of lynx into the wild.

The court is clearly taking our claim seriously and has assigned 1.5 days of court time to the hearing. This is a hugely significant step. 

Currently, as it stands, Natural England are refusing to review any license application now or in the foreseeable future, from us or indeed anyone else. This is the very sad reality of the Rewilding landscape in the UK. There is no legal/licensing route that allows lynx to be reintroduced.

That is truly shocking and so we are compelled to sue the government in order to resolve this deadlock. Without our legal actions, lynx cannot legally be reintroduced. 

The large-scale restoration of our woodland ecosystems simply cannot happen without apex predators and the government is blocking their return. 

So, we are focussing our efforts on where it matters most and that is on winning this court case. If we don’t, the prospects for meaningful rewilding in the UK are dire.

Your support has been invaluable in getting us to this point and now we need to see it through until the end, so that lynx can once again roam our forests where they rightfully belong.

We are very proud to be working with Richard Buxton Solicitors and Richard Turney KC on this landmark case. 

The hearing dates are currently being finalised, but we will let you know as soon as the date is known.

Your continued support to this crowdfunder is invaluable to us, we can't do it without you. 

Sincere thanks, this is a fight we can and must win

Paul

Dr Paul O’Donoghue 

Director 

Lynx UK Trust

This is an incredibly important post about a legal action that will determine the future of meaningful habitat restoration and rewilding in the UK. We have initiated a Judicial Review against Natural England and the Secretary of State, Emma Reynolds, because they are refusing to review our current lynx license application or indeed any future one. They are claiming that they cannot grant a lynx license to anyone now or at any time, as it would breach the Dangerous Wildlife Animal, Act (DWAA). Out legal team, Richard Buxton Solicitors and barrister, Richard Turney KC, strongly disagree and have lodged the legal papers for a Judicial Review. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which was passed after the DWAA, makes provisions for the release of previously native animals. Our team believe that Natural England’s position is untenable.

This legal action arises from a contradiction between Natural England's leadership and the organization’s current policy. Tony Juniper, Head of Natural England, has publicly expressed support for the reintroduction of lynx, suggesting it could occur within two years. Despite these statements, Natural England has stated that it will now not review any licensing applications for lynx reintroduction. It is a ridiculous situation but with very serious consequences that must be overcome.

Public sentiment strongly favours the reintroduction of lynx, with numerous surveys indicating widespread support for this initiative. However, Natural England's stance raises questions about the consistency and legality of their position. They are simply blocking any application progression. As it stand there is no legal route to reintroduce lynx. 

The DWAA stance taken by Natural England, not only blocks lynx reintroduction efforts but also blocks Rewilding efforts involving species such as bison, wolves, aurochs, bears, and moose. None of these can be released into the wild.

It prevents the UK from ever having apex predators or mega herbivores ever again, both of which are key ecosystem engineers.

We are now getting into the nitty gritty. We will have to fight in the courts. There is simply no other way. This is a pivotal legal challenge that will determine the future of Rewilding efforts in the UK.

 If you believe that the UK needs to have healthy, functioning ecosystems and that lynx need to return, then we urge you to continue to support our legal challenge. Please also share this link:

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/bring-back-the-lynx/

Thanks as always for your support. This is a battle that we simply have to win.

Very best wishes

Paul

Dr Paul O’Donoghue

Director Lynx UK Trust

This is an extremely important update. Our legal team at Richard Buxton Solicitors have now started work. Formal correspondence has been sent to the Head of Natural England, Tony Juniper and the Secretary of State, Steve Reed. This is a very important step forward as it will hopefully result in Natural England engaging with and reviewing our Application draft, which they have sat on for over 3 years.

They have a statutory duty to assist and advise on such applications. Indeed, they have done so in the past. The reason they are giving for not engaging with the application, is the Dangerous Wild Animal Act. However, according to our legal team that is not a tenable position, particularly given that our previous application was reviewed and there has been no legislative change.

The Head of Natural England has been extremely positive in the media about lynx returning to the UK and so we ask that his words are followed up by actions. That is why our legal team are so important in ensuring that tangible progress is now made.

As you can see our legal team are not hanging around and have commenced worked even before or crowdfunding campaign has ended. We are therefore reducing the initial target to £7k, so that funds can be immediately released once that target is met.

If you want to see lynx back, then now is the time to support us. We are dealing with senior civil servants and a government cabinet member, so this is very serous stuff. We are breaking new ground and pushing the issue as quickly as possible.

Your continuing support is invaluable. Please help us reach our target by sharing and donating at this link:

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/bring-back-the-lynx/

Thanks for your continuing support.

Paul

Dr Paul O’Donoghue

Director

Lynx UK Trust

We are very lucky to have a fantastic network of supportive lynx and carnivore biologists across Europe, who kindly provide us with some fantastic footage. Huge thanks to Ostrogothia Lynx, Sweden for this wonderful clip of a mother and very young cub. 

This scene is played out in the forests of virtually every European country, apart from the UK. It is time for that to change. The Public are ready, the majority of residents in Northumberland are ready according to a recent survey. The Head of Natural England says he is ‘enthusiastic’ about it. So why isn’t it happening? Well, it is because of a legislative deadlock between Natural England and DEFRA. It is this deadlock that we will break. 

Our lawyers at Richard Buxton solicitors are ready and raring to go. If you want to see lynx back in the UK then please support our legal crowdfunder, so we can break the deadlock and bring lynx home to the UK, where they belong. We thank you for your support, we are on the way to hitting our target. We need to keep going so here is the link to contribute and share:

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/bring-back-the-lynx/

You can look at the beautiful video on our facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/lynxuktrust/

Enjoy and thanks for your continuing support. 

Paul
Dr Paul O’Donoghue
Director
Lynx UK Trust

We hope you are all well.

Many thanks for your support so far, we are moving towards our target which is great.

All information regarding our interactions with Natural England and DEFRA, such as correspondence, meetings minutes, call logs etc, is all being passed this week to our legal team at Richard Buxton solicitors, who are Environmental law specialists.

Yet more data was released last week showing that 72% of residents in Northumberland were supportive of the lynx being brought back to Kielder Forest. That backs up everything we have been saying for years, and we have the letters of support from local residents and businesses alike to prove it.

It is government bureaucracy and a deadlock between Natural England and Defra that stands in the way of the lynx returning to the UK where they rightfully belongs. We are the only organisation brave enough to push the government to break this deadlock and we can only do it with your help.

Our solicitors are ready and raring to go and next week they will swing into action.

Please keep supporting and sharing our campaign and let us make lynx in the UK a reality.

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/bring-back-the-lynx/

Very best wishes

Paul

Dr Paul O’Donoghue

Director

Lynx UK Trust

Thank you so much for your wonderful support. We are so pleased that you are right behind our cause to bring the beautiful lynx back to the UK, where it rightfully belongs.

We won’t give up until the government grants us a license to bring lynx  back.

We have written to the Secretary of State, Steve Reed and the Head of Natural England, Tony Juniper. If they don’t respond appropriately, then our legal team is on standby to move things forward and if required, legally challenge the government’s inaction.

Our forests are dying due to a chronic overpopulation of deer. Lnyx will breathe life back into our forest ecosystems promoting regeneration and biodiversity.

There is no time or indeed good reason to delay and so we are here to make it happen.

Pleas continue to support our campaign so that we reach our target. We are on track to do so but we need your help to do it.

Thanks so much for your help, it empowers us to make real change.

Here is the link, please support and share widely. Spread the word that we need lynx back:

 https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/bring-back-the-lynx/

Thanks again and we will keep you posted.

Paul

Dr Paul O’Donoghue

Director

Lynx UK Trust