BASC criticises Natural England restrictions weeks after High Court ruling

BASC has criticised Natural England after the regulator announced further restrictions on the release of pheasants and red-legged partridges near protected sites in England for the 2026 season.

The announcement comes only weeks after the High Court granted permission for BASC’s judicial review of Natural England’s (NE) licensing regime for gamebird releases near Special Protection Areas (SPAs), confirming there are serious legal questions about the way the rules have been interpreted and applied.

NE’s latest guidance indicates that licences are unlikely to be granted for releases near several SPAs and that additional conditions may apply elsewhere.

BASC says the new restrictions will create further uncertainty for shoots and rural businesses at a time when its judicial review of Natural England’s approach is due to be examined by the courts.

Dr Marnie Lovejoy, BASC’s deputy director of conservation, said: “The High Court has already confirmed there are serious legal questions about NE’s approach to gamebird release licensing near SPAs.

“Despite this, we are now seeing further restrictions proposed which will create additional uncertainty for shoots and the rural communities that depend on them.

“Game shooting supports conservation across large areas of the countryside. Habitat management, predator control and woodland creation carried out by shoots benefit a wide range of species.

“Any restrictions on gamebird releasing must be based on clear and robust evidence and must properly consider the wider environmental and economic impacts.”

NE has said its approach has been influenced by the risk of avian influenza and concerns about overwintering woodlark populations. However, its own review acknowledges gaps in the evidence about woodlark susceptibility to avian influenza and the likelihood of transmission from released gamebirds.