Blogs

The GWCT has run a game shoot at Loddington since 1993, utilising the skills of a gamekeeper to carry out supplementary feeding, habitat management and predation control. The ability to carry out these tasks has enabled us to build on our research of songbird and brown hare populations, focusing on how game management techniques can influence the breeding success of these species.

Defra informed stakeholders on 21^st March that GL43 will be published in the next couple of weeks. However, GL45 will not be released this year, meaning that individual licences must be sought for those wanting to release gamebirds on SPAs.

What makes the perfect pheasant release pen? Here are some key considerations and tips for building an ideal environment for your birds.

In response to the conclusion of the legal challenge brought by Wild Justice against Defra regarding the issuing of licences for gamebird releases in the Deben Estuary and Breckland in 2023, The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust has issued the following statement.

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.

You might have seen George Monbiot’s article in the Guardian on 6 October, criticising pheasant shooting. We responded to the Guardian the next working day but wanted to give them time to print the letter before sharing it with you. As it remains unprinted, please find the letter here.

Today NRW announced that it will not be continuing with its proposals to license gamebird release next year for the 2024/25 season. 

The deadline for consultation responses is Tuesday, 20th June. It is imperative that those involved in game management and shooting, in whatever capacity and in any location in the UK respond to this consultation.

Aim to Sustain including GWCT as scientific advisors to the partnership, has written to the Secretary of State Thérèse Coffey calling for an urgent review of GL43, the gamebird releasing General Licence for protected sites and their buffers.

Further to yesterday’s blog, Defra has now published GL43, the general licence that permits the release of gamebirds on or within a 500m buffer zone of certain protected sites in England.