Record number of grey seals counted at reserve

The reserve recorded its largest ever grey seal population

A record number of grey seals have been counted at a nature reserve.

Cumbria Wildlife Trust said it had counted 563 seals at its South Walney Nature Reserve near Barrow between September 2024 and March 2025.

Official Beth Churn said the colony had grown from single figures in the 1980s and 90s.

"This is wonderful news and a real landmark for us," she said.

The previous highest grey seal count at the site was 518 in 2021, the charity said.

Ms Churn said the colony's population was measured using a drone as well as traditional surveys which "involve us crawling across the shingle and watching the seals through binoculars".

Drones used to count seal numbers are flown "very high" to avoid distressing the animals, she said.

There is no access to the beach where the seals haul out, the wildlife trust said.

Instead they can be seen in the sea at high tide from a viewing hide in the nature reserve, as well as online via a live webcam.

People should always maintain a 100m distance from seals.

"You'll know if you're too close because the seals will start to look at you and move nervously," the charity said.

"If this happens, you should immediately start backing away quietly to avoid further disturbance."