High drama at Hinkley Point B
Wildlife watchers at Hinkley Point B have been treated to a horror show as they rooted for rare birds.
For the past few years Peregrine Falcons have been breeding on a platform high at EDF’s Hinkley Point B nuclear power station.
Because the platform is in a remote spot the birds are not bothered by people and, apart from attacks from angry birds, are protected from other risks.
But this year there was an unexpected dramatic twist in the nest.
“Because of the position of our security cameras at the power station we can keep an occasional birds’ eye on our feathered friends,” said Hannah Dyer, environment group head at Hinkley Point B.
“The platform on the side of the reactor hall has been a good spot for the birds over the years even though we haven’t had the breeding successes we’d hoped for.
“A few weeks ago we were delighted to see the eggs that had been laid had hatched and we had healthy youngsters to admire.”
And for a few short days staff at the Somerset site took great pleasure in keeping an eye on the growing birds. But then things took a dark turn.
“I came to work one day last week and was told that the mother and one of the other chicks had turned on the smaller bird and eaten it,” said Hannah.
“I don’t know why. Maybe food was scarce, maybe it was unhealthy.
“The remaining bird appears to be growing well and we think it will not be long before it fledges and leaves Hinkley for good. Whatever happens next it’s already been an exciting breeding season.”
About EDF
EDF is driving the transition towards An Electric Britain – a secure, affordable, low-carbon future for everyone. As Britain’s biggest generator of zero carbon electricity, we are investing more than £100 million weekly in Britain’s electricity infrastructure. We supply millions of customers with electricity and help homes and businesses switch to electricity for heating, transport and industrial processes.
We operate five nuclear power stations and more than 35 onshore wind farms and three offshore wind farms. Since 2009, EDF has invested almost £9 billion in the nuclear fleet to improve reliability and extend station lifetimes. The five generating stations currently supply about 12% of the UK’s electricity demand.
EDF is building the UK's nuclear renaissance with the construction of a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C. We are a minority investor (12.5%) in and major supplier to a replica plant at Sizewell C in Suffolk. Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C will provide low carbon electricity to meet 14% of UK demand and power around 12 million homes. EDF Group companies Framatome and Arabelle Solutions have a presence in the UK and manufacture critical equipment such as reactor pressure vessels and turbines.
EDF is enabling its 5 million customers, both in business and at home, to choose electric solutions that save cash and carbon, whether it is buying an electric car, generating and storing electricity, selling energy back to the grid or installing solar panels or a heat pump. In 2025, EDF’s Customers business was ranked as one of the Sunday Times’s Best Place to Work.
It is also one of the UK’s leading developers of renewable energy through EDF power solutions UK and Ireland. We have more than 2GW of renewable generation in operation and over 10GW in construction, planning and development across a range of technologies including onshore and offshore wind, solar and battery storage.
We are one of the largest suppliers to British business and a leading supplier of innovative energy solutions that are helping businesses become more energy independent. In addition, the company’s energy services business, Dalkia, is one of the UK and Ireland’s largest technical service providers.
Related articles
Torness runners power on for charity
Heysham power station apprentices are on the right track
