It’s been a very long time coming – too long in my opinion – but last week an announcement was made in the new Land Use Framework for England that the Westminster Government intends to explore options for the licensing of gamebird shooting and releases. This will cover gamebird shooting in both the uplands and the lowlands – in other words, Red Grouse, Pheasant and Red-legged Partridge shooting. It says this:It looks like the Framework is distinguishing fairly between the different types of gamebird shooting and the cost/benefit differences between them. As is the widespread illegal killing of birds of prey on many gamebird shooting estates, both in the uplands and the lowlands. It’s not just gamebird shooting and releases on which Defra seems to have woken up.

Source: The Guardian March 28, 2026 01:59 UTC