Focus groups

As part of our conversation with the local community in our project area, we set up a number of focus groups. These groups are for people with shared interests or livelihoods to discuss specific aspects of a potential lynx reintroduction. They were created to have a more direct and often longer-term involvement with the project. 

Focus groups were established for livestock farmers, people who work in forestry, and for those with an interest in potential business opportunities that lynx could create. There is also a lynx community group, established for and led by the local community. We are also exploring interest in setting up a game management focus group.  

If you live in the project area of Northumberland, the edge of Cumbria and bordering parts of southern Scotland and would like to learn more, please email info@missinglynxproject.org.uk 

Farming focus groups 

We established three farming focus groups, one each in Northumberland, the edge of Cumbria, and the bordering parts of southern Scotland. These groups provided an opportunity to discuss evidence-based information on lynx, the low risk of sheep predation as experienced across Europe, and mitigation measures and compensation processes that are used in Europe. We worked with the focus groups to explore how farmers in Europe live alongside lynx, and the benefits and challenges of implementing similar measures in the British landscape. Sessions were attended remotely by experts from Europe to provide first-hand accounts and answer questions. 

Some members of the focus groups, along with members of the wider farming community, were invited to visit Europe. This was an opportunity to learn from successful lynx reintroduction projects and the farmers already living alongside lynx.

Forestry focus group 

The forestry focus group is an opportunity for people who work in forestry to explore what a lynx reintroduction might mean for them. As woodland cats, there’s potential for reintroduced lynx to spend time in woods managed for forestry operations. This focus group provides a space to discuss learnings from experiences in Europe, address practical questions, learn more about lynx behaviour and start to co-develop an approach to woodland management around lynx. 

Business focus group  

Top carnivores like lynx can bring social benefits such as nature tourism, as well as the benefits they provide for nature through their role in creating a healthy ecosystem. Since lynx were reintroduced to a region of Germany, they are estimated to have encouraged a spend of around £10 million per year. The business focus group was created to explore potential benefits of a lynx reintroduction for businesses and communities in our project area. In addition to exploring opportunities, the group was set up to help identify risks and barriers to accessing those opportunities, as well as ways of overcoming these. The group is helping to develop a business plan outlining any perceived financial benefits a lynx reintroduction could bring. 

Lynx Community Group 

The Lynx Community Group is intended to be a group largely directed by the local community in the project area, for the local community. The group was created to be open to all, both those with positive feelings towards a potential reintroduction and those with reservations. This group provides another communication channel for the local community to engage with The Missing Lynx Project. Inclusion and access to opportunities has been a key consideration of this group from the start.  Sessions have been held online and in-person, both in northern England and southern Scotland.