BASC initiates legal action against Natural England over gamebird licensing

[Conor O'Gorman]

BASC has today begun legal proceedings against Natural England by issuing a Pre-Action Protocol (PAP) letter regarding its handling of the licensing regime for the release of gamebirds.

By issuing a PAP letter, BASC has taken the first step towards a Judicial Review of Natural England’s (NE) handling of the matter.

BASC initiates legal action against Natural England over gamebird licensing

BASC has begun legal proceedings against Natural England by issuing a PAP letter regarding its handling of gamebird release licensing.

basc.org.uk

 

[cjm1066]

Well done BASC.

With Wild Justice doing similar, we are going down a slippery route alas.

Perhaps it will stop the constant bleating for new laws all of which h have flaws.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

BASC has submitted a Judicial Review claim to the High Court over Natural England’s handling of the licensing regime for the release of pheasants and red-legged partridges on or near Special Protection Areas (SPAs) in England.

The legal action follows Natural England’s (NE) response to a Pre-Action Protocol (PAP) letter issued last month. As a result of that letter, NE has agreed to amend the advisory notes in its licences that incorrectly applied wider restrictions on the use of lead shot than was required by law. However, it continues to contest two key elements of BASC’s challenge relating to the definition of ‘release’ and the extension of licensing rules beyond the legal boundary.

BASC is now asking the High Court for permission to proceed with a full Judicial Review of those remaining issues.

More details here:

BASC files Judicial Review claim against Natural England

BASC has submitted a Judicial Review claim to the High Court over Natural England’s handling of the licensing regime.

basc.org.uk

 

[Mickeydredd]

Well done BASC

BASC wins High Court challenge against Natural England

BASC has won its High Court challenge against Natural England, with Mr Justice Ritchie ruling today that the regulator acted outside the law in its approach to the licensing of gamebird releases.

basc.org.uk

 

[Kalahari]

Time for some of the anti BASC people to be gracious?

David.

 

[Camdig]

Time for some of the anti BASC people to be gracious?

David.

One swallow doesn't make a summer

 

[Kalahari]

^^^^ Not quite what I meant by gracious. Oh well.......................

David.

 

[cjm1066]

Well done BASC.

It's a great shame that the negativity on BASC has stopped Conor posting on here.

 

[kenbro]

Let’s hope BASC are successful and can claim back their costs.
Kb.

 

[Camdig]

Let’s hope BASC are successful and can claim back their costs.
Kb.

From the tax payer.

 

[Kalahari]

From the tax payer.

Sadly that is true, but unless we cost some of these organisations money they are just going to keep going.

David.

 

[muddy42]

Well done to those involved. However as a judicial review is just a review of the application of the law, it doesn't change the law or prevent NE trying again with better lawyers.

It frustrates me that a lot of the campaigns designed to protect wildlife have such a narrow single-issue focus. We should be looking at the whole system - why has there been a 60% decline in ground nesting birds, what impact has the increase in birds of prey or badgers had, what is the impact of dogwalkers, industrial farming, pollinators, invasive species or insects, deer numbers, pesticides and glyphosate.

 

[Camdig]

Well done to those involved. However as a judicial review is just a review of the application of the law, it doesn't change the law or prevent NE trying again with better lawyers.

It frustrates me that a lot of the campaigns designed to protect wildlife have such a narrow single-issue focus. We should be looking at the whole system - why has there been a 60% decline in ground nesting birds, what impact has the increase in birds of prey or badgers had, what is the impact of dogwalkers, industrial farming, pollinators, invasive species or insects, deer numbers, pesticides and glyphosate.

Exactly and in my opinion a judicial review of the full protection of badgers would of been a much better use of money, it would actually benefit the whole countryside if badgers were given an open season at the very least.
I do enjoy all shooting but it appears to me that BASC only gets the big guns out when the big pheasant and partridge shoots might be affected.
Tax payers money is being squandered on ground nesting birds while old brock can undo any hard work in a night.

 

[muddy42]

Exactly and in my opinion a judicial review of the full protection of badgers would of been a much better use of money, it would actually benefit the whole countryside if badgers were given an open season at the very least.
I do enjoy all shooting but it appears to me that BASC only gets the big guns out when the big pheasant and partridge shoots might be affected.
Tax payers money is being squandered on ground nesting birds while old brock can undo any hard work in a night.

I agree with you about BASC's focus on things that affect industrial driven shooting. I do get the point that this is an area of employment and protecting jobs is important, but hand-on-heart I'm not that comfortable with releasing 30,000 poults in a small area (for lots of reasons that Id rather not print). It is a battle BUT we need to also look out for the little guy - the small syndicates that release 600 birds in their free time, the wild shoots, the ferreters, wildfowlers (where BASC started), people that feed flight ponds etc. etc.

 

[Mike1979]

The specific issue posted is good news.

The biggest problem with issues like this, and the same is true of most country pursuits, is that we are the vast minority of society and therefore our views in the political arena will be of far less interest then the majority that keep politicians in power. I doubt there is any appetite (certainly not with the current Govt) to look at removing restrictions for Badgers etc.

Also I think its about picking your fights rather then wasting lots of money pursuing a losing battle.

 

[palmer_mike]

Well done BASC.

It's a great shame that the negativity on BASC has stopped Conor posting on here.

Firstly, well done to BASC and anyone who was involved in securing this.

Secondly, yes it appears BASC no longer post on here. It’s a shame their representative never engaged properly with discussions on how their offering might be improved and simply preferred to deny any previous shortcomings.

 

[Camdig]

The specific issue posted is good news.

The biggest problem with issues like this, and the same is true of most country pursuits, is that we are the vast minority of society and therefore our views in the political arena will be of far less interest then the majority that keep politicians in power. I doubt there is any appetite (certainly not with the current Govt) to look at removing restrictions for Badgers etc.

Also I think its about picking your fights rather then wasting lots of money pursuing a losing battle.

OK then, so happy to see thousands of birds dropped into the countryside annually for commercial gain, I do shoot pheasants but anything past 100 birds imo is verging on profiteering and exploitation of pheasants and partridge.
Preserving our native birds with the management of native predators not worth pursuing! Pretty much somes up Britain in 2026

 

[Mike1979]

OK then, so happy to see thousands of birds dropped into the countryside annually for commercial gain, I do shoot pheasants but anything past 100 birds imo is verging on profiteering and exploitation of pheasants and partridge.
Preserving our native birds with the management of native predators not worth pursuing! Pretty much somes up Britain in 2026

Sorry mate - I wasnt arguing with your points but when we get onto the countryside and commercial gain then farming practices generally come into it and the whole argument over consumers wanting lower prices then complaining their milk comes from cows that dont go outside. There is no simple black & white answer. Commercial shoots provide employment and do lots of conservation work - the fact that this is done to make money doesnt lessen the good that is done - and I ll point out I havent ever been on a commercial pheasant shoot nor am I a part of a small shoot either.

Personally I think the protection of badgers is utter nonsense and this protection should be removed. I live in Wales so cant shoot magpies on my Welsh permissions- again utter nonsense and does nothing to promote an increase in hedgerow birds. I shoot corvids & foxes on around 4,500 acres so do my bit...just trying to make the point that orgs like BASC are never going to keep everyone happy. I answer all of the consultations launched and do my bit where I can - I am not saying we shouldnt fight .... just accept when the odds are against us.

 

[Camdig]

Sorry mate - I wasnt arguing with your points but when we get onto the countryside and commercial gain then farming practices generally come into it and the whole argument over consumers wanting lower prices then complaining their milk comes from cows that dont go outside. There is no simple black & white answer. Commercial shoots provide employment and do lots of conservation work - the fact that this is done to make money doesnt lessen the good that is done - and I ll point out I havent ever been on a commercial pheasant shoot nor am I a part of a small shoot either.

Personally I think the protection of badgers is utter nonsense and this protection should be removed. I live in Wales so cant shoot magpies on my Welsh permissions- again utter nonsense and does nothing to promote an increase in hedgerow birds. I shoot corvids & foxes on around 4,500 acres so do my bit...just trying to make the point that orgs like BASC are never going to keep everyone happy. I answer all of the consultations launched and do my bit where I can - I am not saying we shouldnt fight .... just accept when the odds are against us.

Not seen many 500 sheep days advertised.
Ive said this before somewhere on here if lowland shoots (Pheasant, Partridge and reared Mallard) put emphasis into a wild stock we wouldn't be in this situation as you would need real gamekeepers managing habitat and pests to get results and similar to Grouse you can only take the surplus some years will be great other years very minimal.
Good on you for your efforts.

 

[Mike1979]

Not seen many 500 sheep days advertised.
Ive said this before somewhere on here if lowland shoots (Pheasant, Partridge and reared Mallard) put emphasis into a wild stock we wouldn't be in this situation as you would need real gamekeepers managing habitat and pests to get results and similar to Grouse you can only take the surplus some years will be great other years very minimal.
Good on you for your efforts.

Lets not go there mate....it tends to be hidden from public view or more commonly known as an "Orgy"....bring your own velcro suit and shin pads