Wales faces pheasant shooting ban on public land

Shooting organisations have railed at the decision by environment minister for Wales, Hannah Blythyn AM, to ban pheasant shooting on Natural Resources Wales (NRW) land. The minister announced that from March 2019 all pheasant shooting leases on public land will be rejected, with NRW criticised for acting against scientific evidence after already dismissing an outright ban earlier this year.

Beaters will also not be permitted to flush out any birds from private estates that settle on public land. BASC said that the minister was pandering to “animal rights extremists”.

The association raised concerns about the loss of jobs and said that it was investigating the possibility of a legal challenge.

The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) said: “Our studies have shown that pheasant shoots which implement good habitat management can deliver significant biodiversity benefits. This evidence was submitted to the NRW which concluded shooting should continue on NRW land.”

Rachel Evans, Countryside Alliance director for Wales said: “You have to wonder if this reflects Labour’s wider approach to the countryside. Taking away people’s livelihoods with a decision that is not based on evidence is truly shocking.”

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