General Licence 006

Licence Number: GEN / WCA / 006 / 2024
Valid from: 1 January 2024
Expiry date: 31 December 2024

Licence to take birds’ eggs from abandoned nest boxes

This licence, granted under Section 16(1) (c), 16(5) and Section 16(5)(a) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), by the Natural Resource Body for Wales otherwise known as Natural Resources Wales (NRW), being satisfied that as regards to the purpose set out at paragraph 1 that there is no other satisfactory solution, permits authorised persons to carry out a range of activities against the birds of the species listed and hereby grants the following licence which applies only in Wales: 

1. The purpose of this licence is to permit authorised persons to remove and promptly destroy abandoned eggs from nest boxes before the next breeding season begins for the purpose of conserving wild birds.

2. Subject to the terms and conditions below, this licence permits the taking and destroying of an egg of a wild bird or any part of such an egg, for the purpose set out in paragraph 1 above.

The works noted above are licensed for the period as stated above and are granted subject to compliance with the conditions as specified. Anything done otherwise than in accordance with the terms of the licence may constitute an offence.

Iwan G. Hughes, Team Leader Species Permitting
Signed for and on behalf of Natural Resources Wales

Part B. Conditions

1. This licence only applies to the taking by hand and destroying of an egg of a wild bird, or any part of such an egg from nest boxes in Wales which are not currently in use by birds, during the period 1 September to 31 January. It is issued solely in order to permit the removal of abandoned or unsuccessful eggs from nest boxes before the next breeding season begins. All eggs removed from nest boxes under this licence must be destroyed at the first available opportunity.

2. Nothing in this licence permits the sale, hire, barter or exchange of an egg of a wild bird or any part of such an egg.

3. Nothing in this licence permits the retention, keeping or possessing of an egg of a wild bird or part of such an egg.

4. No person convicted of an offence to which this paragraph applies may use this licence unless, in respect of that offence, either (1) they were dismissed with an admonition, or (2) they are a rehabilitated person for the purposes of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and their conviction is treated as spent. A person may also use this licence where, in respect of such an offence, a court has made an order discharging them absolutely. This paragraph applies to offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Deer Act 1991, the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996, the Hunting Act 2004, the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 and the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (all as amended).

5. Failure to act within the purpose of this licence as set out in paragraph 1 or failure to comply with the conditions of the licence may mean that the licence cannot be relied upon and an offence could therefore be committed. The maximum penalty available for an offence under the Act is a level 5 fine (£5,000) and/or a six month custodial sentence.

Part C. Notes

1. A licence in similar terms has been issued by Natural England in respect of England and by the Scottish Executive in respect of Scotland.

2. This licence may be modified or revoked at any time.

Part D. Definitions

1. An “authorised person” means:

a) the owner or occupier, or any person authorised by the owner or occupier, of the land on which the action authorised is taken;

b) any person authorised in writing by the local authority for the area within which the action authorised is taken;

c) as respects anything done in relation to wild birds, any person authorised in writing by

i. the Welsh Ministers, in relation to things done for purposes relating to fishing or fisheries in the Welsh inshore region (within the meaning of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009);

ii. any of the following bodies, that is to say, any of the GB conservation bodies, a district board for a fishery district within the meaning of the Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1862 or an inshore fisheries and conservation authority.

d) any person authorised in writing by Natural Resources Wales, a water undertaker or a sewerage undertaker.

The authorisation of any person for the purposes of this definition shall not confer any right of entry upon any land.