(Image: Bjorn Beckman/PA Wire)
A conservation project has been given a star-studded boost by a York-born star of stage and screen.
Dame Judi Dench, along with Outlander actor Sam Heughan, have named two golden eagle fledglings as part of the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project, a scheme run by the charity Restoring Upland Nature (Run) to restore the raptor’s population in the region.
Dame Judi named one of the young birds GoldenEye, a nod to the Bond film in which she played the first female M.
She said: "I would like to congratulate the charity Restoring Upland Nature and everyone who has supported their pioneering work to restore this iconic species to record numbers in the south of Scotland.
"A real triumph over adversity.
"It is an enormous privilege to name a golden eagle that has fledged from the nest of an eagle translocated by the project.
"Many years ago, as the first female M, I instructed James Bond to ‘find GoldenEye’ and here he is."
The fledgling she named is the grandchild of a male eagle that project chiefs said is currently recorded as the oldest living golden eagle in Europe.
Mr Heughan, who co-owns the Galloway Distillery, named the second bird Sassy as a nod to his Sassenach Whisky.
He said: "It is a great honour to be invited to name a golden eagle that represents such hope for the future of this magnificent species in the south of Scotland.
"I’m delighted to know that this magnificent creature might explore the beauty of my hometown and surrounding area."
This summer, five birds have fledged as part of the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project, four of which are directly descended from birds translocated to the area.
Dr Cat Barlow, chief executive of Restoring Upland Nature, said: "Seeing not just one, but four young birds hatch, fledge and fly freely from the nests of golden eagles that we translocated to southern Scotland is a hugely significant milestone in our work to restore the species to southern skies.
"It shows that where there are healthy ecosystems and the risk of interference is low, translocated eagles can successfully integrate into native populations to breed successfully.
"It gives us genuine hope that we can help reverse biodiversity decline and ensure current and future generations across Scotland, England and Wales experience that incredible sense of awe when they see a golden eagle.
"We are thrilled that Dame Judi Dench and Sam Heughan accepted our invite to name chicks.
"They are both wonderful champions for golden eagles: Dame Judi through her role as a wildlife ambassador, and Sam through his fantastic support of the communities which play such an important part in the project’s success across southern Scotland."
The project has now restored the golden eagle population in the south of Scotland to more than 50 birds, the highest number recorded in the region for three centuries.