Rare heron seen at Somerset estate where river has been allowed to run free

A rare black-crowned night heron has been spotted on an estate in the south-west of England where an innovative river “reset” is transforming the area into an oasis for birdlife.

The heron was caught on camera in a jungly corner of the Holnicote Estate, where conservation experts have been restoring the landscape by allowing a river to return to its natural course.

As well as the heron, charismatic birds including white-tailed eagles, white storks and cranes have been seen at the National Trust estate.