GWCT News Blog

One of the replacement General Licences, issued by Natural England in April to protect livestock, is facing a potential legal challenge (General Licence WML - GL26).

Dr. Jonathan Reynolds, GWCT Head of Predation Control Studies, discusses the issue of evidence for General Licences going forward.

You can now download a copy of the GWCT's written evidence submission to the 2019 Defra consultation into General Licences.

Roy Burrows, Land Manager at Summerstone Estate, highlights the impact that General Licence changes are having on ground-nesting birds.

Following the licences changes, GWCT Head of Advisory Dr. Roger Draycott outlines what farmers, gamekeepers and reserve wardens can do now to protect ground nesting birds.

Defra has launched a call for evidence on the impact of Natural England’s decision to revoke three general licences. 

Earlier this week we met with Natural England and handed them questions that GWCT members and supporters had asked concerning General Licences via our recent blog. Here are Natural England's answers to some of the more commonly asked questions.

Natural England have agreed to a meeting on Wednesday 1^st May. If you have questions you would like us to put to them, please submit them below and we will publish their responses

From midnight on Thursday 25 April 2019 it will be illegal to trap, shoot (or otherwise kill or take) the General Licence species such as crows, magpies and woodpigeons in England. Read our advice. 

Natural England has said it will be replace three of its existing General Licences.