General Licences - Wales
New Welsh general licences
At midday on Monday 7 October Natural Resources Wales (NRW) published three new general licences (GL001, GL002 and GL004) for the killing and taking of pest birds in Wales. These are completely new general licences with major changes to the ones they replace.
If you intend shooting or trapping pest birds under general licence in Wales it is vital that you have read and understood the new general licences, which run until 31st December 2019.
Rook and collared dove
You may not kill or take rooks or collared doves under the new Welsh general licences.
If you need to kill or take rooks or collared doves you will need to apply for an individual licence from NRW. If you are a BASC member and need advice on applying for an individual licence please email our game and gundogs team or call 01244 573 019.
Protected sites
The new general licences are not valid in, or within 300 metres of, 203 protected sites in Wales. In addition, for one protected site – the Dyfi Estuary SSSI – general licences are not valid within 500 metres of the site boundary. A list of protected sites where the new general licences are not valid can be found in an Annex at the end of each of the general licences.
If you need to carry out pest bird control within any of the listed protected sites you will need to apply for an individual licence from NRW. If you are a BASC member and need advice on applying for an individual licence please email our game and gundogs team or call 01244 573 019.
GL001 – Prevention of serious damage to crops and livestock (valid from 7 October)
This general licence is for the revised purpose of preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables or fruit, or to prevent the spread of disease to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables or fruit.
It authorises the killing or taking of Canada goose, carrion crow, jackdaw, feral pigeon, magpie and wood pigeon. This includes damaging or destroying their nests and taking or destroying their eggs. It also authorises the use of carrion crow, jackdaw and magpie as decoys in cage traps.
GL002 – Preservation of public health (valid from 7 October)
This general licence is for the purpose of preserving public health and preventing the spread of disease.
It authorises the killing or taking of feral pigeon. This includes damaging or destroying their nests and taking or destroying their eggs. It also authorises the use of any device for illuminating a target or any sighting device for night shooting; the use of any form of artificial lighting or any mirror or other dazzling device; or of any hand held or hand propelled net to take birds whilst not in flight.
GL004 – Conservation of wild birds (valid from 7 October)
This general licence is for the revised purpose of conserving wild birds.
It authorises the killing or taking of carrion crow, jackdaw, jay and magpie. This includes damaging or destroying their nests and taking or destroying their eggs. It also authorises the use of carrion crow, jackdaw, jay and magpie as decoys in cage traps.
The above control methods are authorised to conserve only the chicks and eggs of bird species listed in Annex 1 of the licence.
Latest press releases – Wales general licences
Welsh general licence users need to “use them or lose them”
Attention now focused on ensuring people do not fall foul of changes.
BASC calls new Welsh general licences irresponsible on Farming Today
In the interview Steve criticised the new conditions and raised the serious concerns regarding the lack of resources given by NRW into publicising the changes.
Take part in BASC survey to protect shooting in Wales
Play your part in NRW general licence review to ensure future licences are fit for purpose.