Natural England

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 [398 kB]
• issue licences - download our application forms
• assist with enforcement and inspection - including suspected wildlife poisoning

What we do not cover
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Latest news

• Government badgers and bovine TB announcement
  The Government today announced its decision that badger culling will not take place as part of its strategy to control bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in cattle. For Defra's ministerial statement - click here.
  For more information please click here.
• European Protected Species (EPS) Licensing Improvements - Wildlife Management and Licensing has written to stakeholders, providing an update on recent changes to the EPS Licensing process and outlining improvements expected in the coming months. Please see our letter to stakeholders
• Increased legal protection for the water vole
  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.

• New Great Crested Newt method statement
  New Great Crested Newt method statement [548 kB] form launched. This Excel format template has been designed following extensive review of mitigation practice, applicant feedback and comments from Natural England staff. The template is one of a range of measures designed to ensure the European Protected Species licensing regime is effective at delivering conservation outcomes, straightforward for applicants, and enforceable. We welcome comments to help us improve the template (email wildlifeprojectmanagement@naturalengland.org.uk with "Newt template feedback" in the subject). Please note that we will no longer be accepting old format great crested newt method statements after 29 February 2008.

• 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.

• European Protected Species
  On 21 August 2007 an amendment to the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994 came into force. This will have a variety of consequences for the protection of European Protected Species and for Natural England's licensing processes.

To read more about our work see our leaflet Wildlife Management and Licensing - Balancing the needs of people and wildlife [150 kB].