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SHOOTING
The Law Commission’s
Wildlife Review
IN NOVEMBER THE Countryside
Alliance welcomed The Law
Commission’s review of wildlife law and
the publication of its recommendations
to consolidate swathes of legislation in
England and Wales.
There is much to be commended
in the report, which has profound
implications for shooting and wildlife
management. However, there are areas,
which far from making the law clearer
for those shooters, farmers and keepers
who have to operate under it, could, in
fact, make the law more complex and
risk making essential management
practices unlawful.
We support the need to simplify
and consolidate wildlife legislation in
England and Wales. However, we feel
an opportunity was missed to go back
to first principles and create wildlife law
based on logic, science and evidence.
We also believe that some of what
is being proposed could have serious
consequences for shooting, and much
work is needed if any resulting law is
to be workable, both in conserving
wildlife and supporting those who
manage the countryside.
We will be looking at the detail and
implications of the report, and look
forward to continuing to work with the
Government to develop a legislative
structure that ensures the long-term
future and conservation of our wildlife.
The Quarter
OUR HIGHLIGHTS OF THE
PAST THREE MONTHS
DECEMBER
● We welcomed Defra’s
commitment to “rural
proof” its policies, i.e.
ensuring government
departments’ policies take into account
specific issues faced by rural communities.
We also agreed with Defra’s announcement
that it does not wish to reopen the
European Birds and Habitats Directives.
● We also reacted to Ofcom’s Connected
Nations 2015 report which shows that the
reach of broadband has risen across the
UK over the past year. We warned that
it is still clear that rural areas are still
lagging behind.
JANUARY
GUNDOGS
Microchipping laws to come
into force
This spring it becomes
compulsory to have all dogs
microchipped. This is an
easy and harmless procedure
providing pets and
working dogs with lifetime
identification. Each chip has
its own code that is revealed
when scanned by a vet which
correlates to owner’s details
on a database. The British
Veterinary Association has
said: From 6 April in England and
Wales (and in Scotland at a date
to be confirmed), failure to have
your dog microchipped or to not
update your database details can
lead to a fine of up to £500. More
information on the legislation as well
as posters for veterinary reception
areas can be found at www.bva.co.uk/
microchipping. Useful information
can also be found on Twitter using
the hashtag #ChipMyDog.
Photo: Alex Morgan
● Liam Stokes joined the Countryside
Alliance as Head of Shooting. Liam
has taught gamekeeping and wildlife
management at Wiltshire College Lackham
for the past six-and-a-half years, whilst also
running Lackham Shoot, overseeing grey
partridge reintroduction and a brown trout
recovery project amongst other things.
FEBRUARY
● The judges hit the road
to judge the Rural Oscars,
and a great celebration
of Welsh business was
held at Cardiff Bay. Welsh
Champions now go forward to April’s
Winners’ Reception at the House of Lords.
● As part of FACE UK we launched a
new e-lobby of MEPs to raise concerns
about firearms proposals. More on www.
countryside-alliance.org.
www.countryside-alliance.org.uk SPRING 2016 l COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE 5