The environment secretary has rejected long-term ambitions to return the lynx to East Anglia's countryside - sparking a defiant response from nature campaigners.

Thérèse Coffey, who is also the Suffolk Coastal MP, discussed rewilding and species reintroduction at the National Farmers' Union's annual conference in Birmingham.

She recalled her early days as an MP candidate in 2010, when proposals to reintroduce the sea eagle to Suffolk were scrapped amid anger from farmers, who were "really worried about what this would do to their livestock, particularly given the extent of free-range farming in that part of the country".

Eastern Daily Press: Environment secretary Thérèse Coffey - Picture: NewsquestEnvironment secretary Thérèse Coffey - Picture: Newsquest (Image: Archant)

"I don’t want farmers to constantly have to worry about these issues," she added. "That is why I won’t be supporting reintroduction of species like lynx or wolves."

The debate over whether once-extinct native predators should be allowed to prowl around East Anglia’s countryside again was reopened by nature movement WildEast when it was founded in 2020.

The group aims to restore 20pc of the region to the wild and explore the potential for reintroducing species such as the Eurasian lynx – which has become the emblem of the organisation.

Eastern Daily Press: WildEast trustee Olly Birkbeck, a director of the Little Massingham Estate in west Norfolk - Picture: Olly BirkbeckWildEast trustee Olly Birkbeck, a director of the Little Massingham Estate in west Norfolk - Picture: Olly Birkbeck (Image: Olly Birkbeck)

WildEast trustee Olly Birkbeck, a director of the Little Massingham Estate in west Norfolk, said: "As farmers and conservationists we welcome Therese Coffey’s assertion that no wolves or lynx will be reintroduced under her tenure - but not for the reasons she states.

"The effect of these wondrous native creatures on livestock would be miniscule and easily compensated as we’ve seen on the continent.

"This would be a small price to pay for their return, the sense of wonder in the natural world they would restore and the ecological benefits they would bring, especially in controlling the devastating effects of deer over-population.

"The real reason is that our denuded landscape could no longer support them. Give us 50 years and we’ll change that."

Eastern Daily Press: The Eurasian lynx - Picture: Erwin van MaanenThe Eurasian lynx - Picture: Erwin van Maanen (Image: Erwin van Maanen)