At last, eco quango is stripped of powers on bird shooting

NATURAL ENGLAND has been stripped of its power to issue birdshooting licences as the row between the environment watchdog and farmers continues.

Michael Gove made the decision on Friday following calls by MPs to ‘take back control’ from the organisation’s new boss, Tony Juniper, a leading environmentalist.

In an exchange of letters, the Environment Secretary said it would be ‘appropriate’ for his department to take over the responsibility ‘for the time being’ as a result of the ‘concern that has been generated’.

Countryside groups welcomed the move but warned Mr Gove that he needed to act fast, because many farmers are currently unable to protect their vulnerable livestock and crops.

There was a backlash last month over the decision to revoke the three general licences to cull pest birds such as crows and wood pigeons.

For decades, farmers had been allowed to kill 16 species of birds if they were causing harm to livestock or crops under nationwide general licences. But after legal action by BBC TV presenter Chris Packham and his campaign group Wild Justice, Natural England revoked these licences – meaning landowners would have to apply for a special licence to cull pest birds.

As the controversy raged, the Daily Mail reported how crows peck the eyes out of sheep, disembowel lambs and feast on songbird chicks. One shocking picture showed bloodied lambs after they had been savaged by crows.

Wild Justice argued that the general licences did not comply with animal welfare requirements. But countryside groups claimed there had been no prior communication or consultation over the decision. Natural England had promised to rush out new licences ‘at pace’.

But in a letter to Mr Gove made public on Saturday, Mr Juniper asked for the environment department to take over the responsibility.

‘Despite our efforts to explain the need for the change, some groups are reporting confusion among their members and a level of dissatisfaction that is in some cases spilling over into frustration,’ he said. To resolve the situation, he asked Mr Gove ‘to temporarily take on the ultimate decision making around the general licence’.

Mr Gove replied: ‘I consider that it is appropriate for me to take over the functions to which you refer for the time being. I do so recognising the scale of concern that has been generated by the decision to revoke; and because my judgement is that the present situation needs to be considered with particular intensity and urgency.’

Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, said: ‘This decision to take the crisis to the highest level of government is to be welcomed, but it is too late for those that require the use of the general licence on a daily basis to protect their crops, livestock and wild birds.’

The savage cruelty of a law that lets crows torture and kill lambs From the Mail, April 27