Gamekeepers’ conference: bringing together the custodians of fieldsports
BASC’s inaugural Southern Gamekeepers’ Conference took place at the EJ Churchill shooting grounds last week.
Consequences of Defra licensing debacle highlighted on the BBC
The BBC’s Farming Today programme has covered the consequences of Defra’s changes to the general licence for gamebird release in protected areas (known as GL43).
BASC’s Gareth Dockerty told Farming Today presenter Charlotte Smith that there are gamekeepers and people within the shooting community who are angry, concerned and in tears as a result of this licensing change. He said, “we are in complete in limbo, [shoots] have applied for the licence and they are now waiting, and they cannot make rational decisions about how they need to operate their shoot with all this in the air.”
Gareth Dockerty said that Defra “haven’t relied on good reliable evidence to get to their decision and also because there was no consultation whatsoever. Effectively, introducing a licence at the eleventh hour without communicating with the shooting community, is completely inappropriate.”
Utilising BASC’s Fighting Fund, the association has instructed lawyers to commence a legal challenge that could see BASC seek permission from the High Court for a Judicial Review.
Listen to the full interview here (segment starts at 07.00 minutes).
Find advice and guidance regarding the changes to GL43 here.
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BASC southern gamekeeping conference held at Great Fulford Estate
The Great Fulford Estate in Devon provided a stunning backdrop for the first BASC gamekeeping conference held in the south west of England.
Act now to avoid animal welfare crisis in the countryside, BASC warns Defra
BASC has warned Defra that shooting businesses are facing financial ruin, criminal charges or both, unless it urgently reinstates a licence for the release of gamebirds in protected areas of England.