GWCT News Blog

Defra has at last published all the details of the three new general licences for the control of certain bird species effective from 1st January 2021, plus its “standard licence conditions for trapping wild birds” under these licences.

The GWCT has produced a survey to capture the detail of General Licences in Wales. As with the previous consultation, we will collate and anonymise the information before putting it into a report. The closing date for our survey is 10th January.

Over the next few weeks Defra will be consulting with stakeholders about their plans for licensing gamebird releasing on or near protected sites in 2021. 

Defra has published the first details of three new general licences for the control of certain bird species effective from 1st January 2021. 

It would appear the legal team at Defra are the real winners – they have avoided costly legal action and significant disruption to those providing the habitat that game management delivers.

Defra has today (18 June) announced that six general licences for the control of wild birds will be reissued on a temporary basis ahead of new licences coming into force on 1 January 2021.

Natural England has now started issuing decisions in relation to applications for individual bird control licences for those circumstances which are not covered by the General Licences issued by Defra in January.

If you wish to control lesser black-backed gulls and herring gulls you only have until Sunday 15^th March to apply through Natural England.