Green light to fight game releasing ban

Natural England is failing to deliver a workable individual licensing system for the release of pheasants and red-legged partridges and BASC is taking the NGO to court.

What sparked the row?

The problems began in March 2025. Defra ministers decided not to renew a general licence (GL45) for the release of pheasants and red-legged partridges on or near Special Protection Areas in England due to national concerns about avian influenza.

Natural England was tasked with administrating an individual licensing system. However, it quickly became an unworkable mess, with the organisation refusing to provide shoots with essential data necessary for their applications. BASC likened the situation to “playing a game where the rules change and only the referee knows what they are”.

Legal challenge moves forward

On the legal front it’s been a slow and costly process. However, in a major step forward, we have now secured permission from the High Court to proceed on all grounds in a judicial review. The court will set a timetable for evidence and legal submissions ahead of a full hearing later this year.

It is important to highlight that when shooting faces legal or political threats, BASC’s fighting fund allows us to instruct expert legal teams and take decisive action.

We also use the fund to challenge unjust police decisions against our members.

Wild Justice rebuffed by court

Wild Justice continues to try to meddle in our case against Natural England. However, the court refused its application to participate in the proceedings, ruling that the campaign group was not directly affected and that its involvement would not materially assist the court.

It seems Wild Justice does not like to take “No” for an answer. In its newsletter last week, it stated that it “will instead look for opportunities to support Natural England with its defence”. I wonder what the High Court will make of that.

Why BASC says shooting matters

It’s not government agencies or anti-shooting lobbyists who are out there in all weathers, through thick and thin, putting in the time and effort that is required to provide the nation’s food and maintain wildlife habitats and biodiversity.

Those areas designated for their special conservation and landscape value exist because of land management practices going back generations.

That includes shooting and the evidence shows that sustainable gamebird releasing following codes of practice is an environmental benefit.

Pressure on conservation and farming

Natural England’s continued rigid, top-down approach needs to end. It is damaging to farming and shooting – the very activities that are key to hitting local and national nature recovery targets.

The combined conservation work carried out by shooters would require the equivalent of 26,000 full-time jobs to match it. That’s more than eight times the circa 3,000 people employed by Natural England.

Limited resources

The Natural England staff out and about giving advice and support on the ground are trying to do their best with limited resources. However, it is the leadership team and legal advisers that are letting down a once respected and trusted organisation.

The National Audit Office’s recent review of environmental regulation concluded that Natural England has developed an overly cautious and risk-averse culture.

In other words, where there is any uncertainty the instinct is to say “No,” regardless of the real level of environmental risk or the potential benefits of responsible land management.

What BASC wants next

It is time for Natural England to stop acting like a medieval church with its secretive decision making and punitive actions, and start working supportively and constructively with those managing our natural resources.

A good start would be to overhaul its licensing system for the release of pheasants and red-legged partridges and not leave shoots in limbo ahead of the 2026/27 shooting season.

If your shoot is affected, don’t struggle alone. Contact your local BASC team. We are here to support you.