A RIBBLE Valley forest has become the last haven for a rare bird, which is facing extinction.

Conservationists say the hen harrier is facing a grim future due to the “shameful” illegal trapping and shooting.

Only four nesting pairs successfully raised young in England this year — all in the Forest of Bowland, according to the RSPB and Natural England Experts said it was reintroduced in the 1960s following extinction in the late 19th century.

Hen Harriers sometimes prey on red grouse, making them unpopular on many grouse moors.

And the RSPB said the bird had been the victim of illegal trapping, shooting, poisoning and its eggs and nests had also been destroyed.

Martin Harper, RSPB conservation director, said: “With only four pairs of hen harrier in England, this bird only has four steps before extinction.”

The hen harrier, from which the jet takes its name, was once common in Britain, but by 1900 it survived only on remote Scottish islands.

Now conservation chiefs have appealed to grouse moor owners to to provide a lifeline to the birds.

They have asked them to introduce diversionary feeding, where an alternative food supply is left, so that the birds do not impact on the grouse population.

Mr Harper, said: “We believe the potential for diversionary feeding will provide a lifeline for the recovery of the English hen harrier and a way for grouse moor managers to maximise the number of grouse.”