Blogs

Following the success of the GWCT Game 23 Conference in Shropshire earlier this year, we are delighted to confirm that GWCT’s annual game conference Game 24 which will be held on Tuesday 5th March 2024.

Defra has advised GWCT and other stakeholders that new wild bird control General Licences for England (GL40-42) will come in to force on 1st January 2024. Defra has confirmed that it is not currently planning to make any changes and will replicate the existing GL40-42 conditions in the new licences.

In a recent newsletter, the campaigning group Wild Justice questioned why Defra had sought advice from GWCT in relation to General Licence GL43 - the licensing mechanism for gamebird releasing on or near some protected sites.

Starting 1st November 2023, a new environmental principles duty has taken effect, marking a crucial milestone in embedding environmental considerations into government policy-making.

Defra and the Forestry Commission have announced substantial funding enhancements for two major forestry land management schemes - the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) and Countryside Stewardship (CS).

The government has unveiled plans to secure continued access to essential pesticides for the country's farmers and growers. These plans, formulated in response to feedback from the farming industry, aim to provide stability, reduce input costs, and support resilient and profitable food production.

The UK government has announced the opening of the eighth round of the Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund on October 23, 2023

In this guide, we'll walk you through the key details and steps to prepare for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), a program designed to support your farm business while promoting sustainable practices.

As part of Defra’s efforts to protect hedgerows in England, they launched a consultation in June to gather your views and suggestions. The consultation will close on 20 September, so there is still time for you to have your say and help shape the future of hedgerow policy. 

The Scottish Government has announced that it intends to bring forward amendments to the Wildlife Management and Muirburn Bill to ban the use of snares in Scotland.