Natural England - Licensing application forms
Licensing application forms
Please visit our licences page for summary information on: Who needs a licence; what is needed to get one, and how long it takes.
Licences and advice are provided free of charge except where stated.
Choose the form you need from the list below. We have many forms because information required for different types of licence varies considerably in the amount of detail required and the nature of evidence needed in support of the application.
To help you choose the right form, please see our guide of examples or contact us for advice.
Complete the form and send it to us at the address give on the form. Microsoft Word format application forms can be completed electronically, saved to your computer and e-mailed; some applications can be completed online. Alternatively, you can ask us to send you a paper copy of the form and return it to us by post.
Most licences are issued with a report form, which must be filled in and returned once the licensed action has been completed, where a separate report is required, they can be downloaded from the table below. There forms can often be used to request a renewal of a licence.
- Animals, survey work e.g. great crested newts, dormice, native crayfish
- Animals, scientific/conservation projects e.g. great crested newts, dormice, crayfish, water voles
- Badgers
- Bats
- Birds, fish-eating - damage to inland fisheries e.g. cormorants
- Birds - with special protection
- Birds - without special protection
- Deer
- Dormice
- European protected species
- Great crested newts
- Mammals - damage, public health and safety
- Mink, coypu or grey squirrels, Keeping non-indigenous mammals
- Non-native species, Release of
- Plants, all protected species
- Sale, exhibition & possession of birds, animals or eggs
- Rabbits
- Seals
Badgers
| Application form | Guidance | Report/Renewal |
|---|---|---|
Badgers in relation to development: WML-A24  (e.g. housing developments, pipelines, new fences) | Badgers and Development: IN7.5  | WML-LR24 |
| Badgers in relation to damage, agriculture, forestry, drainage and preventing the spread of disease: WML-A01 (e.g. badger setts in fields requiring cultivation or forests to be felled or thinned) | If use of one-way gates is planned leaflet: TIN25 | WML-LR01 |
| Badger for the purpose of preservation or archaeological investigation of a scheduled monument: WML-A26 (e.g. badger sett causing damage to ancient burial mound) | WML-LR25 | |
| Badger for science, education and conservation, ringing or marking: WML-A25 (e.g. trapping and marking badgers as part of a research project)
Template for References | Guidance on references for applicants | WML-LR25 |
European protected species (includes all bats, great crested newts)
| Application form | Guidance | Report/Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Bat species in respect of development or public health and safety, damage or disease only.
Please note all 3 sections must be completed | European protected species – how to get a licence: WML-G12 Handy hints on obtaining a licence Experience in bat mitigation: Guidance for ecologists Example Method Statement - bats Providing unnecessary “over-mitigation/compensation” will not secure a mitigation licence | Report |
| Bat species for science, education or conservation only: WML-A34 (e.g. surveys, research and bat roost visitor work)
Template for References | Guidance on references for applicants | Report ONLINE |
| Great Crested Newt in respect of development or public health and safety, damage or disease only.
Please note all 3 sections must be completed | European protected species – how to get a licence: WML-G12 GCN Conservation Handbook Providing unnecessary “over-mitigation/compensation” will not secure a mitigation licence Disease screening for Chytrid (when proposals are to move GCN over 2km from the donor site). Please see the Zoological Society of London’s website | Report |
| Great crested newt for science, education or conservation only Fully protected animals form: WML-A29 or ONLINE (e.g. surveys and conservation or research projects)
Template for References | Guidance on references for applicants | WML-LR2930 ONLINE |
| Dormice - Application for a licence in respect of dormice affected by development or public health and safety, damage or disease.
Please note all 3 sections must be completed | European protected species – how to get a licence: WML-G12 Providing unnecessary “over-mitigation/compensation” will not secure a mitigation licence | Report |
| Dormice for science, education or conservation only Fully protected animals form: WML-A29 or ONLINE (e.g. Dormouse conservation project involving nest box checks)
Template for References | Guidance on references for applicants | WML-LR2930 ONLINE |
| European protected species (except bats, dormice and newts) for all activities other than research, education and conservation.
Please note all 3 sections must be completed | European protected species – how to get a licence: WML-G12 Providing unnecessary “over-mitigation/compensation” will not secure a mitigation licence | Report |
| European protected animals for science, education or conservation only - see Protected animals below.
Please note there is also a separate science, education form for bats: WML-A34 see below | ||
| European protected species possession application form: WML-A37 (e.g. Non accredited museum holding EPS specimens acquired after 10th June 1994) | You may not need to apply for a specific licence see general licence for possession | |
| European protected species sale application form (all species): WML-A38 (e.g. collector selling EPS specimen) | Annex IV species List | WML-LR38 |
Protected animals (not birds) for science, education or conservation
| Application form | Guidance | Report/Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Fully protected animals - Schedule 5 WCA 1981 or Schedule 2 Habitats Regs. 1994 in relation to science, education or conservation: WML-A29 or ONLINE (e.g. Great crested newt, dormouse, white clawed crayfish, in relation to surveys, science, education or conservation)
Template for References | Schedule 5 Species List Schedule 2 Species List Guidance on references for applicants | WML-LR2930 ONLINE |
| Partially protected animals - Schedule 6 WCA 1981 or Schedule 3 Habitats Regs.1994 in relation to science, education or conservation: WML-A30 or ONLINE (e.g. Research project on polecat)
Template for References | Schedule 6 Species List Schedule 3 Species List Guidance on references for applicants | WML-LR2930 ONLINE |
| Bats for science, education or conservation: WML-A34 (e.g. research project on bat roost location)
Template for References | Guidance on references for applicants | WML-LR34 |
Protected plants for science, education or conservation
| Application form | Guidance | Report/Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Plant - any on Schedule 8 of WCA 1981 or Schedule 4 of Habitats Regs.1994 in relation to science, education or conservation: WML-A31 (e.g. collection of protected plant samples for genetics study)
Template for References | Schedule 8 Species List | WML-LR31 |
Protected birds - Schedule 1
| Application form | Guidance | Report/Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule 1 bird - disturbance for public health and safety: WML-A08 (e.g. Peregrine nesting on electricity pylon) | Schedule 1 Species List | |
| Schedule 1 bird - disturbance in respect of science, research or conservation: WML-A27 or ONLINE (e.g. Research project on kingfisher nesting behaviour)
Template for References | Schedule 1 Species List Guidance on references for applicants | Report |
| Schedule 1 bird - disturbance for photography WML-A28 or ONLINE (e.g. Photography of barn owls)
Template for References | Schedule 1 Species List Guidance on references for applicants | Report |
Other birds - without special protection
| Application form | Guidance | Report/Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| General birds - birds or their eggs in relation to damage to crops, to preserve public health or safety, to preserve air safety including prohibited methods (mist netting, carbon dioxide or stupefying): WML-A08 (e.g. greylag geese fouling recreation area)
Please note customers who have previously held a licence for this purpose can apply to renew it on the report form | Report/renewal | |
| General birds - birds or their eggs in relation to science, education, research or conservation: WML-A33 or ONLINE (e.g. Study of robin nesting behaviour)
Template for References | Guidance on references for applicants | WML-LR33 ONLINE |
| Gulls in relation to conservation: WML-A36 (e.g. control of Herring gulls to conserve other wild birds) | ||
| Falconry & Aviculture: WML-A41 (e.g. Falcon taking quarry birds) | WML-LR41 |
Fish-eating birds - damage to inland fisheries
| Application form | Guidance | Report/Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Cormorants, herons, goosanders and mergansers in relation to preventing serious damage to fisheries - new applications: WML-A06 | ||
| Cormorants only - Renewal and report form in relation to damage to fisheries. Only for use by customers who have previously held a license for this purpose.
New applicants should use the form above | WML-LR06 |
Fish-eating mammals (except Otters) - damage to inland fisheries
| Application form | Guidance | Report/Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Fish eating mammals in relation to preventing serious damage to fisheries: WML-A06 Please do not use this form for otter cases use European Protected Species form A12 (all 3 sections). Note the fish eating birds form should currently be used for all other species, as a mammal form is being developed. |
Mammals - damage, public health and safety
| Application form | Guidance | Report/Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| General mammals - in relation to damage, public health and safety: WML-A05 |
Sale and exhibition and possession
| Application form | Guidance | Report/Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Sale all protected species - to sell animals or plants: WML-A38 | Schedule 5 animals Species list Schedule 8 plants Species list Annex IV species List | WML-LR38 |
| Captive birds - to sell birds not fitted with the correct close ring (excluding diurnal birds of prey): WML-A20 | WML-LR20 | |
| Black Headed Gull - to sell eggs: WML-A22 | WML-LR22 | |
| Black Headed Gull - to take and sell eggs: WML-A23 | WML-LR23 | |
| Exhibition of birds - birds not fitted with the correct close ring for competitive purposes: WML-A21 | N/A | |
| European protected species possession application form: WML-A37 (eg. Non Accredited museum holding EPS specimens aquired after 10th June 1994) | You may not need to apply for a specific licence, see general licence for possession |
Release of non-native species
| Application form | Guidance | Report/Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Release of non native species and those listed under Schedule 9: WML-A03 - (e.g. release of rehabilitated munjac) | Schedule 9 Species List |
Keeping non-indigenous mammals - (mink, coypu or grey squirrels)
| Application form | Guidance | Report/Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Mink, grey squirrel and coypu - to keep for exhibition, science and education: WML-A04 (e.g. wildlife collection to open to the public)
NB there is a charge for the coypu licences |
Seals
| Application form | Guidance | Report/Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Seals all purposes: WML-A17 (e.g. seal damage to fisheries) |
Deer
| Application form | Guidance | Report/Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Deer - for science, education and for relocation: WML-A32 (e.g. Trapping and radiocollaring deer for behavioural study)
Template for References | Guidance on references for applicants | Report |
| Deer - for shooting deer during the close season or at night for certain, specified purposes: WML-A16 (e.g. health and safety issue) | Further information on licensing under the Deer Act 1991 (as amended) |
Rabbits- complaints regarding damage
| Application form | Guidance | Report/Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Rabbits - complaint form: WML-A02 (e.g. exceptional case of rabbit damage of national significance) | Obligations under the Pests Act 1954 and Agriculture Act 1949: WML-G22 |
Note:
Word documents - If you don't already have the software to view this Microsoft document format, free software is available:
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