Judge slams “bullying” tactics – as BASC’s High Court ruling stands
Mr Justice Ritchie confirmed his original judgment stands, refusing Natural England permission for an appeal, and that the original ruling now takes effect immediately.
- - Features
- - Features
Hold fire on general licences survey
The government has launched an online survey of practitioners on some of the general licences for pest bird control in England. Conor O’Gorman advises people to wait until BASC publishes its guidance before responding.
Hot on the heels of Defra’s gamebirds review, Natural England is asking people to share their experiences and feedback on general licences in an online survey that runs until 1 February 2027.
BASC is advising members to await our guidance before completing the survey, which covers three general licences in England:
- GL40 to kill or take certain species of wild birds to conserve wild birds, flora or fauna of conservation concern.
- GL41 to kill or take certain species of wild birds to preserve public health or public safety.
- GL42 to kill or take certain species of wild birds to prevent serious damage.
The survey is being independently run by a research company called ICF, with a summary report expected to be published in 2028.
The tick-box-style questions include which bird species you control and when, the methods used and the reasons for doing so. People are also asked if they record their activities and if the general licences are clear and easy to understand. Many of the questions are optional and the results will be anonymised.
What is the purpose of the survey?
This is the third government consultation since March focusing on shooting, and I think it’s fair to say the shooting community is getting a bit weary and cynical.
Firstly, we had Defra’s bird quarry species consultation from 23 March to 17 May for which we await the outcome.
Secondly, Defra’s gamebirds call for evidence from 4 September to 1 November was announced on the same day that Natural England lost its bid to appeal a High Court ruling that it acted unlawfully over gamebird release licensing.
Now we are being asked to take part in a survey about the general licences commissioned by the same agency that revoked these licences in April 2019, causing an estimated cost of at least £29 million in damages to the countryside.
Natural England has stated that the survey is to ‘improve understanding of how the general licences are used in practice across England’ and to help ensure ‘that licences remain effective, proportionate, practical and evidence-based’.
BASC continues to call for the general licences for pest birds to be simplified because people need clear terms and conditions to follow.
BASC guidance will follow.
Share
Conor OGorman
Conor O’Gorman has worked in a variety of conservation, policy and campaigning roles at BASC over the last 20 years.
A zoology graduate with a PhD awarded for grey partridge research, he has over 25 years’ experience in conservation and land management.
BASC’s response to Scottish general licences consultation
BASC has submitted its response to NatureScot’s public consultation, supporting the continuation of the general licensing system in Scotland.
What happens next in our case against Natural England
Following the successful High Court challenge against Natural England, BASC is back in court this week to hear how the judgment in the case will take effect.