Blogs

Defra has launched a consultation on its proposals to amend the list of birds that can be legally shot outside of a closed season. The proposals include extending the closed season for woodcock and snipe in England and Scotland and removing snipe from the quarry list in Wales.

With the upcoming long-awaited good weather, dog walkers and their canine companions will soon be enjoying the scenic walks and health benefits the outdoors have to offer. At the same time, many of our ground-nesting birds will be incubating while later arrivals will be starting to build their nests.

It’s hard to believe how quickly the last six months have passed. The placement has flown by in a busy whirl of tubing samples, identification, data entry and analysis, and the occasional bits of fieldwork. Since September, much of our time has been concentrated in the lab, learning key invertebrate identification skills whilst working through samples collected during last summer.

So many staff across our field teams, advisors and scientists are dedicated to understanding and supporting farmland bird communities, sparrows included!

The government has used the publication of the latest iteration of the Land Use Framework report to announce it is exploring “wider measures such as licensing and any associated conditions for recreational gamebird shooting and release”.

Following Deputy First Minister & Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs Huw Irranca‑Davies MS’ announcement of an independent review of the impacts of released gamebird management, the GWCT welcomes Welsh Government’s commitment to consider both scientific and practitioner evidence.

GWCT Scotland is inviting supporters and interested members of the public to join them for guided walks over a select number of Scottish grouse moors in April 2026. This is a unique opportunity to enjoy privileged access to some of Scotland’s most spectacular landscapes, learn about upland land management from practitioners and landowners, and witness the breathtaking biodiversity found on managed moorland.

Natural England has announced there will be further restrictions on gamebird releases on several Special Protection Areas (SPAs) this year, following its latest Habitat Regulation Assessments (HRAs) for the sites. 

Bringing together 15 partner organisations (including the GWCT), coordinated by the Ecological Continuity Trust in close association with the British Ecological Society and supported by a private charitable trust, the partnership aims to connect these efforts, strengthen collaboration, and provide the overarching support needed to deliver meaningful, joined‑up change.

As my second full winter at the Allerton Project comes to a close, I thought I would share my thoughts around hedges, their importance and the management approach we have taken to improve these habitats.