GWCT News Blog

Those who control carrion crow, magpie and jackdaw in Wales, for conservation or to prevent serious agricultural damage, need to be aware of the changes being implemented in the new general licences being issued on the 1^st of July 2022.

On March 24th the NRW board met and voted in favour of approving several changes to the General Licences. The major change will see magpie, jackdaw and jay all removed from GL 004 – ‘Licence to kill or take certain wild birds for the purpose of conserving wild birds’ when the current licence expires after the 30th of June and the new licences are issued on the 1st of July.

Following NRW’s consultation at the end of last year, this week we have been made aware of proposed changes to the General Licences in Wales. The GWCT is extremely disappointed with the proposed changes, which could be considered a worst-case scenario given the questions posed within the previous consultation.

Earlier today (3 February), in a House of Lords debate on bird control licences, the discussion turned quickly to game management.

Defra has published updated General Licences for wild bird control in England effective from 1st January 2022 until 31st December 2023.

This week we submitted our response to the Natural Resources Wales (NRW) call for evidence on the future of regulating the shooting and trapping of wild birds. We are hugely grateful to the 307 people who responded and enabled us to provide your perspective and experience in controlling species under licence.

With the season all but over, Mike Swan's mind, as usual, turns to planning for 2021/22. In just a few weeks the pheasants will be setting up their territories, strutting their stuff, and doing everything they can to keep their harems together.

The GWCT are reminding all farmers, land managers and gamekeepers of important changes to licensing arrangements for pest control in England which came into effect on 1st January.