Changes to individual gamebird release licenses for those on SPAs

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In March 2026, Natural England launched this year’s gamebird individual licensing regime, which applies for those people wanting to release gamebirds in areas on or within 500m of Special Protection Areas. The reasoning for the initial introduction of these individual licences – rather than a general licence – was because of the risk of Avian Influenza transmission from game birds into the wild bird population.

 

Natural England have now announced changes to the regime that they launched in March, in response to changes to the national AI risk level. In May 2026 the national HPAI risk level was reduced to ‘low’, and there have only been two incidences of HPAI in England since the start of May.

 

As such, Natural England have concluded that due to the reduced risk of Avian Influenza, gamebird releases on 6 SPAs that previously required a delayed release date of 1 September are now likely to be individually licensed with standard conditions only.  Existing licences for these SPAs are being reviewed, and it is likely that the delayed release condition will be removed. 

 

The six SPAs in question are as follows:

·       Ashdown Forest SPA

·       East Devon Heaths SPA

·       North York Moors SPA

·       Peak District Moors (South Pennine Moors Phase 1) SPA

·       South Pennine Moors Phase 2 SPA

·       Thorne and Hatfield Moors SPA

 

Licences that have been granted subject to a delayed release condition of the 1^st September on the above SPAs are likely to be revoked and new licences issued without a delayed release condition. Where applications have already been submitted for these SPAs, successful licences will be issued without the delayed release condition.

 

There will however be no change to SPAs where there is a delayed release date of 1^st Oct; nor is there any change to those SPAs where gamebird release is highly unlikely to be permitted.

The NGO are pleased that Natural England have now recognised the reduced risk of AI transmission, but frustrated that it has happened so late in the summer, when most shoots will already have prepared accordingly for the release date given to them by NE back in March.

Things may change yet again when further decisions are made by the court regarding the legal challenge brought by BASC against Natural England's licensing regime. This is expected to happen in September. 

ENDS

The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO) represents the gamekeepers of England and Wales. The NGO defends and promotes gamekeeping and gamekeepers and works to ensure high standards throughout the profession.

The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation was founded in 1997 by a group of gamekeepers who felt that keepering was threatened by public misunderstanding and poor representation. Today, there are 13,000 members of the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation.  www.nationalgamekeepers.org.uk