Review of bird controls after ‘chaos’ in England

Hard on the heels of the legal challenge to the general licensing system south of the Border, which allowed the control of certain bird species, a review of the arrangement is also to be conducted in Scotland– but farmers have been assured that they will be still able to protect their crops and livestock.

Announcing the launch of a 12-week consultation, Scottish Natural Her itage( SN H) stressed that unlike Natural England’s precipitous removal of the licence, which was blamed for creating“chaos and consternation”, the existing arrangements would remain in force in Scotland during the review period.

Robbie Kernahan, SNH’S head of national operations, said that in light of the“complicated si tu ati on in England” where the licence was revoked following a legal case fronted by TV wildlife presenter Chris Packham, a review scheduled for 2020 was being brought forward a year: “We would like to re assure those currently operating under general licence sin Scotland that these remain in place, allowing those who comply with the conditions to continue to use them.”

The general licence system allows users to control wild birds or destroy their nests, for reasons such as preventing serious damage to crops, protecting public health and guarding air safety when flocks of birds are liable to get in flight paths.

Kenrnhan said that the consultation would ask stakeholders for their views about how general licences work in practice, what they should cover, and how they should be worded .“We want to ensure that general licence sin Scotland are clear, proportionate and fit-forpurpose,” said Kernahan.

NFU Scotland welcomed the reassurance that the current licence remained in place, stressing that it was extremely important that farmers could continue to protect their crops, livestock and local wildlife.

Angus Macfadyen, a hill farmer from Argyll who chairs the NFUS environment and land use committee, added that it was vital that these lic ences were retained in the future to allow an ongoing, pragmatic approach that allowed farming to thrive alongside wildlife.

“I would urge our members who make use of the general licensing scheme to make their views known on how important the scheme is and how it can be improved,” he said.