Natural England’s approach to wildfowling consenting on Protected Sites (ZZ008)

Responsible and sustainable wildfowling along our protected coastlines is a valid use of our wildfowl populations. Wildfowling clubs can also play an important role in contributing to the conservation of wildfowl sites through wardening, land management and pest control.
Wildfowling activity continues to occur in many places around the country. Natural England has, however, recently refused consent for wildfowling within a number of Special Protection Areas (SPAs), which we realise has raised a number of questions by the wildfowling community. This note aims to provide greater clarity on our approach to wildfowling consenting on Protected Sites.