Rewilding – a personal perspective There was a time in my life when the worst question you could ask me was ‘Where were you born?’ I would squirm and try to change the subject but if pressed I had to answer ‘Basingstoke’. In my formative years this was a source of deep embarrassment. Jane Austen…
Tag: Natural England
First steps to new licensing system
Late last night Natural England posted this which includes these words: The decision to revoke these licences was not taken lightly. Natural England explored all other options available, but was left with no choice but to revoke the licences in order to comply with the law. General licences will be restored as quickly as possible,…
Natural England – where are you?
I’ve spoken to quite a few journalists over the last couple of days – all have said that Natural England is refusing to comment on the General Licence issue. I find this shocking – if Natural England won’t talk about it then Defra should. But Natural England should. Where is their Chair? Their Chief Exec?…
Not so nice people
Here is a selection of messages that Wild Justice has received over the last couple of days since news of our General Licence victory has emerged: What a bunch of tossers you lot really are you couldn’t run a piss up in a brewery Fuck off Are you aware that your fantastic legal work on…
What they are saying about the General Licences (2)
Natural England is hiding from the media and hasn’t given a single interview about the general licences as far as I can see. Every journalist to whom I have spoken has said that NE is either not answering the ‘phone or is turning down interview requests. A bit odd for a public body. I’ve just…
What they are saying about the General Licences
Woodpigeons and crows can no longer be legally killed in England – The Guardian Wild Justice’s Mark Avery quoted ‘It’s not every day that three part-time conservationists overturn decades of unlawful bird-killing‘. BASC website – Peter Glenser BASC Chair ‘Natural England’s decision to withdraw the open general licences will cause chaos and uncertainty in the…
Wild Justice’s legal challenge – what happens now?
NE say they are going to consult on the General Licences. In the meantime, NE has decided that anyone wanting to kill any of the species listed on the three General Licences which will be revoked on Thursday 25 April will need to apply for an individual licence giving grounds and evidence, as the law…
Wild Justice’s legal challenge – how the case progressed
Wild Justice and lawyers outside Defra Nobel House on 11 March ahead of meeting Natural England. L to R: Anita Davies (Matrix Chambers), Chris Packham and Ruth Tingay (Wild Justice), Carol Day (Leigh Day) and Mark Avery (Wild Justice). Wild Justice’s legal success against Natural England had the following chronology: 13 February – “Pre Action…
Statement by Wild Justice
Yesterday afternoon (23 April), nearly 10 weeks after Wild Justice launched a challenge to the legality of the 2019 General Licences (on 13 February), Natural England announced that it was revoking 2019 General Licences 04/05/06 on Thursday (25 April) after deciding to do so at its Board meeting of 15 April. After nearly four decades…
Wild Justice wins its first legal challenge
Wild Justice was set up by Chris Packham, Ruth Tingay and myself and was launched on 13 February this year. Our first legal challenge was against the General Licences issued by Natural England on 1 January this year. Late this afternoon Wild Justice heard that we had won our first legal challenge. We could only…