Natural England outlines changes to 2026 General Licences

Overview of the General Licences

Natural England has outlined changes to the 2026 General Licences, which allow landowners and gamekeepers to control certain wild bird species without applying for individual permissions.

The three Licences (GL40, GL41 and GL42) permit bird control for conservation purposes, public health and safety, and preventing serious agricultural damage. Responsibility for issuing them has transferred from Defra to Natural England.

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When the new Licences take effect

The new licences will take effect on 1 January 2026 for 12 months.

Key changes include reinstating the use of artificial light for controlling feral pigeons at night under GL41. GL40 will now list red grouse as a bird of conservation concern, so species such as carrion crows and magpies can be controlled to protect grouse populations.

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Red grouse listed as a conservation concern

Natural England said that red grouse have been included “because of expert opinion that their favourable status may depend on continued predator control”, and because in 2024 the species was formally recognised as endemic to Great Britain and Ireland.

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New condition on minimising disturbance risks

A new condition requires users to avoid excessive disturbance of wildfowl, waders, gulls, seabirds and harriers near protected sites to reduce bird flu transmission risks. Users retain some flexibility in how they comply, and no locations or times are specifically prohibited.

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Read the full bulletin from Natural England

The Countryside Alliance welcomed the red grouse designation as “meaningful and welcome change that recognises the vital role of predator control”. The alliance published the full bulletin from Natural England here.