Fresh challenge to new general licences could hit farmers controlling birds

Although the new challenge, which was outlined in a pre-action protocol letter to Natural England’s legal team, is mainly focused on gamekeepers who want to protect pheasants, it is likely to have wider ramifications.

One of Wild Justice’s main complaints centres on the fact that under the terms of the new licence, the licence holder – not the issuer, Natural England – remains responsible for ensuring there is ‘no other satisfactory solution’ to lethal control.

If this aspect of the challenge is upheld, it could affect farmers wanting to protect livestock other than gamebirds, such as lambs, from attack.

Andrew Gilruth, director of communications at the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), told Farmers Guardian the move showed there was confusion over the meaning of ‘no other satisfactory solution’ in the Wildlife and Countryside Act.