
Predator control and nature recovery: what the evidence tells us
As the UK faces a biodiversity crisis, the role of predator control in nature recovery has never been more relevant or widely debated.
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Natural England has launched an anonymous online stakeholder survey and we want every BASC member that has had engagement with the agency to take part (e.g. individual licences, wildfowling consents etc.).
When you begin the survey choose “countryside sport, shooting” as your organisation’s sector and for the next section on your role in the organisation write the text “BASC member” in the “other” box. Then, complete the rest of the survey based on your views and experience. The survey closes on 9th April 2021.
BASC’s view
BASC’s Dr Conor O’Gorman said: “Natural England has caused no end of problems for shooting in recent years and this survey is an opportunity to hold them to account.
The survey is aimed at organisations and rather than BASC submitting a single response, we want every BASC member who has had dealings with Natural England to take part to demonstrate the strength of feeling and scale and diversity of the problems the agency has caused us all.”

As the UK faces a biodiversity crisis, the role of predator control in nature recovery has never been more relevant or widely debated.

Natural England has updated its plans to issue the 2026 general licences GL40–42 for the control of wild birds in England.

By taking part in the 2025 GunsOnPegs Census, you’ll have the chance to win two pegs on a 150-bird day at the spectacular Stoke Edith shoot in Herefordshire.