June

While there is no doubt the impact of gamebird releasing on the spread of AI must be carefully assessed and monitoring ongoing it must be weighed against the considerable risk of withdrawing the General Licence.

GWCT are advising all shoots planning to release gamebirds on or within 500m of a Special Protection Area this summer to apply for a licence without delay. 

Further to yesterday’s blog, Defra has now published GL43, the general licence that permits the release of gamebirds on or within a 500m buffer zone of certain protected sites in England.