Blogs

General Licences for 2025 were issued by NatureScot in December 2024 and are in effect as of 1 January 2025.

Comment from Ross Macleod, Head of Policy Scotland, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust.

On 16th December 2024, NatureScot announced the automatic extension of trap registrations until 31 December 2025. This gives registered trappers time to prepare for the new Wildlife Trap Licence under the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024

Following the outstanding success of our autumn training courses, with over 400 certificates issued, we’re thrilled to announce new training dates for February 2025. 

With the colourful days of autumn behind us, we wrapped up our annual partridge surveys, worm counts and VESS assessments, and set our sights northward. November brought us to the Scottish Demonstration Farm at Auchnerran, where we helped to tackle a long-term challenge on the farm: rabbits.

The GWCT Advisory Service Scotland has successfully concluded its 2024 training sessions, ensuring compliance with the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024. 2025 courses begin in February, book your place now.

On 1 December, the picturesque grounds of Fingask Castle came alive with creativity and excitement as 60 young budding artists and their families gathered to celebrate the winners of our annual Scottish schools art competition.

If you missed one of the film’s roadshow screenings earlier this year, there’s good news: The Last Keeper is now available to stream on Amazon Prime. This is your chance to experience the documentary that has been celebrated worldwide for its insight, beauty, and ability to inspire change.

A ban on snaring, introduced as part of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024, will commence on Monday 25 November 2024. This means that, from this date, it will be an offence to set a snare in Scotland for the purpose of killing or restraining a wild animal.

Scottish law now mandates registration of decoy birds used in corvid trapping. Discover the details of this change, its implications for wildlife management, and how to comply.