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Wildlife Management & Licensing Service
The Natural England Wildlife Management and Licensing Service has three main roles:
- provide advice on wildlife management - see our leaflets and frequently asked wildlife questions
- issue licences - download our application forms
- assist with enforcement and inspection - including suspected wildlife poisoning
Latest news
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Additional guidance for survey and mitigation licence applicants
- Guidance on references for Science and Conservation licences
- A new template for providing references
- Guidance on the experience required for great crested newt mitigation licensing
- Handy Hints for applicants for Great Crested Newt and bat mitigation licenses
- An example Method Statement for a fictitious bat application for Brown long-eared and Common Pipistrelle bats
- An improved version of the Great Crested Newt method statement part of the application pack
- An update to our Frequently Asked Questions
Over the last few weeks we have launched some new guidance for our customers applying for survey and European protected species mitigation licences:
From 1 October 2008, 50 species of bird (and all hybrid birds) are being removed from Schedule 4 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Click here
for a summary of the changes, links to further information and Natural England's guidance on licensing for species removed from the Schedule.
These three species are now protected against acts including the deliberate capturing, disturbing, injuring or killing and damage or destruction to their breeding sites or resting places (note that this is a simplified summary of the legislation). Further guidance can be found at http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/conservation/wildlife-management-licensing/leaflets.htm
From 6 April 2008 the water vole, Roman snail, spiny and short-snouted seahorses and the angel shark receive an increased level of protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (Variation of Schedule 5) (England) Order 2008. The water vole is now fully covered by the provisions of section 9 of the Act and this increased protection adds prohibitions against intentional killing, taking or injury, possession and sale.
The water vole has suffered one of the most catastrophic declines of any British mammal this century and its widespread survival is now seriously threatened. The reasons for this include loss and fragmentation of habitat and the introduction and spread of the American mink. Natural England welcomes the increased level of protection.
Water voles: the law in practice; guidance for planners and developers
[911 kB] and Water voles and development: licensing policy provide advice on our approach to licensing the capture and translocation of water voles that are affected by development or riparian management work. If you wish to apply for a licence please see form WML-A29 We continue to encourage water vole surveys by experienced ecologists and have produced guidance
explaining that a licence is not needed to undertake normal water vole surveys.Natural England General Licences
From the 1st January 2008 all Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) general licences will be issued by Natural England, including those previously issued by Defra - see General licences.
General licences are issued to allow certain actions to be carried out that would otherwise be illegal under the legislation, without the need for people to apply for a specific licence.
Changes to deer legislation
From 1 October 2007, under the Deer Act 1991 , all wild deer with the exception of Muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi) are protected by a close season. The Regulatory Reform (Deer) (England and Wales) Order 2007 (No.2183) amends the original Act and will improve deer welfare in a number of ways. Further amendments include changing the close seasons for female deer to a common start date of 1 April, changing the minimum rifle calibres permitted for muntjac and Chinese water deer and introducing new licensing provisions.
Licences can now be issued by Natural England to allow deer to be shot in England during the close season, or at night, for preserving public health or public safety or for conserving the natural heritage, and at night for the prevention of serious damage to property. Licences can only be issued where there is a serious risk of deer causing the problems concerned and where there is no satisfactory alternative for resolving the problem.
Apply for a licence (in England).
Guidance on deer and deer management is available from The Deer Initiative. Further background and information on deer and the deer action plan is available from Defra.
To read more about our work see our leaflet Wildlife Management and Licensing - Balancing the needs of people and wildlife [150 kB].