2026

Following a number of findings of highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild birds and detections in poultry and increased risk levels, an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) has been declared covering England and Scotland to mitigate the risk of further outbreaks of disease occurring.

The current approach to the Emergency Authorisation of pesticides in the UK is fundamentally weak, it is not being used as was intended and therefore needs to be strengthened.

As the leading independent, evidence-based organisation on gamebird management, the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust worked hard to submit a significant body of scientific research to Defra as part of the government’s Call for Evidence on Gamebird Release, Shooting and Welfare during Rearing in England.

The most recent release of Defra’s Wild Bird statistics this week shows that long-term declines in almost all habitats dating back to at least the 1970s continues, with the most significant downward trend impacting farmland birds. However, these generalised declines are not universal, and on farms across the country localised success stories are increasingly common.

The GWCT will be submitting an independent, very thorough and very detailed response, which will include the most comprehensive list of peer-reviewed scientific evidence, research reports and papers. However, there is a real need for shoots, shoot owners, shoot managers and gamekeepers to respond to this Call for Evidence to provide data and evidence that the GWCT does not hold.

After 18 months in which the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) – Defra’s flagship mechanism to help farmers deliver the food and nature outcomes on which this nation depends – was closed, farmers had less than six hours to submit their applications for three-year periods of funding before the door was once again slammed shut.

Today marks the coming into effect of the new licences to make muirburn on non-peatland and peatland respectively. This means that, as of today, it is illegal to make muirburn in Scotland unless under a valid licence issued by NatureScot.

As the leading independent, scientific, evidence-based organisation on gamebird management, the GWCT very much looks forward to engaging with Defra over the coming weeks as part of this call for evidence.

Last year we applauded NE’s creation of firebreaks on Hatfield Moss as mitigation against identified wildfire risk. It is therefore welcomed that the latest blog by Natural England on reducing wildfire risk references this in the section on the work they are doing on their reserves.

There has been a lot of media commentary on the firewave that England is currently experiencing and, quite rightly, there have been calls for greater management of the vegetation (fuel load) within semi-natural habitats and on the rural-urban fringe.