What is the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 England?
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is the primary legislation which protects animals, plants and habitats in the UK. Information on the legal protection afforded to wild birds in England, Wales and Scotland in Part 1 of the Act is given in these pages.
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) makes it an offence (subject to exceptions) to intentionally kill, injure or take any wild animal listed on Schedule 5, and prohibits interference with places used for shelter or protection, or intentionally disturbing animals occupying such places.
Summary: An Act prohibiting and limiting actions involving wild animals, and the primary piece of legislation for wildlife protection in the UK. Prohibitions include taking, injuring, killing and disturbing. It is also an offence to disturb places used for shelter and protection.
- Protection of birds and prevention of poaching. Protection of wild birds, their nests and eggs. ...
- Protection of other animals and prevention of poaching. Protection of certain wild animals. ...
- Protection of plants. Protection of wild plants.
- Miscellaneous. Introduction of new species etc. ...
- Supplemental.
Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), the country nature conservation bodies have a duty to notify any area of land which in their opinion is 'of special interest by reason of any of its flora, fauna, or geological or physiographical features' – these areas are known as Sites of Special Scientific ...
October 2022: New amendment to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 allows licences to be granted for development purposes - Aspect Ecology.
Currently all bird species, 22 other animal species or groups of species and 86 species of flora are afforded protected status. The Act also enables the possession, trade and movement of wildlife to be regulated and controlled.
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom implemented to comply with European Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds.
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) gives full protection to red squirrels under Schedule 5. For Schedule 5 species, the following are offences: Intentional taking, killing or injuring. Intentionally / recklessly damaging or destroying its place of shelter / protection.
Schedule 1. The Act makes it an offence (with exception to species listed in Schedule 2) to intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird or their eggs or nests.
