So, as we approach Christmas and look forward to the beginning of a new year, I have some good news from Natural England.
Let me first start by thanking Natural England's outgoing operations director James Diamond, with whom I had an open and informative dialogue. I found James to be helpful, and I have conveyed my thanks and appreciation to him for the assistance and advice he has provided during 2019, as we discussed the aims of our petition and various issues surrounding the agency's controversial wildlife licensing system. Our initial dialogue resulted in a pledge, on behalf of Natural England, to publish details of licences the agency had issued (during the previous year) and to make the publication of all wildlife licensing data an annual declaration. Statistics will be published in January, and then annually from March The incoming director of operations, David Slater, has now been in touch with me, with details of when that licence data will be released. Due to the election, the publication of the statistics was delayed slightly - but I now have an assurance that [fanfare!] it will be published and available for public inspection in early January, 2020. Moreover, Mr Slater has confirmed to me that "we will make sure we publish our annual stats at the end of March each year from now on". The stats will be freely available for public perusal and scrutiny and should include details of every individual and class licence Natural England has issued, including the number of each species affected and the reasons for approving the licences. Natural England ready to address public concerns.... Receiving official confirmation of this is a major development and a sure sign that Natural England have acknowledged our campaign and are addressing our concerns over the agency's accountability and responsibility to the public. There's a way to go yet, but I think this is a very good start. Less secrecy leading to more public awareness.... It is clear that through our campaign and petition, the British public have demonstrated a real desire to be part of licensing processes and to be kept aware of decisions made by Natural England which affect the treasured wildlife of our country. Decisions which cannot be kept secret any more. I have been greatly encouraged by Mr Slater's assurance that he is happy to discuss facts and figures with me and that he is "keen to be as transparent as possible on our wildlife licensing work going forward". I am hopeful. And it's not a bad note on which to start 2020, is it? Best, Jase
22 Comments
Angus Cecil Robertson
20/12/2019 03:28:24 pm
Jason, THANK YOU, for your brilliant work. Have a well deserved, awesome holiday season.
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Glynne Williams
20/12/2019 04:19:31 pm
This is fantastic news, and hats off to you Jason for all the hard work you put in; you really deserve a break. Let's hope, however, that the new government does not suddenly renege on environmental and bio-diversity legislation - the current mood music on any legislation Bojo perceives as from the EU is not particularly good.....
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12/1/2020 04:56:15 pm
Thank you Jason for your Awesome work. Wishing you a happy and successful new year lets hope that the new year is a better one than 2019for our wild life birds and others.
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Dr P. N. Jarvis
20/12/2019 03:43:44 pm
Have we any comparable figures fro Wales and Scotland, please? We have splendid ravens near us and I have never seen anyone shoot them. They are one of the delights of our National Park.
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Geoff Halpin
20/12/2019 03:51:59 pm
Thanks Jason for the Update But I Would Like To Know Why These Licences are Given ? And One Of My Main Concerns is Some Of our Rare Birds Are On It I Mean on the Heading Our Most Beautiful Finch With It's Pink Breast Well When Did You Last see A Bullfinch ? So Why Are They On The List Which I Would Love To See The Full List as Would Many I think
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Stuart Adams
22/12/2019 06:34:43 pm
Its a library picture those birds nothing have nothing to do with the general licences.
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Andrew Roberts
20/12/2019 03:52:06 pm
Well done - your tenacity has paid off and the tenor of Natural England's remarks seems more open and positive.
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Christine Edwards
20/12/2019 03:52:32 pm
Jason thank you so much fr being our voice in all this. I did, finally, get a response from Natural England regarding MY concerns but it was very bland and self exculpatory and a further attempt at getting answers was ignored. So I am so grateful for everything that you are doing.
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Angelina
20/12/2019 04:08:50 pm
Well done, you! Let me know what I can do to help. I often feel so bloody useless in Britain, in so many respects.
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Zoe Wild
21/12/2019 10:15:42 am
Could you please post on Facebook our crowdjustice page?
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BoB Howson
20/12/2019 04:17:03 pm
Thanks Jason for all you've done and congratulations too on doing it with grace. Many would have lost it at times when a response either wasn't forthcoming, or added nothing, from Natural England. Happy Christmas.
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Paul Williams
20/12/2019 04:42:14 pm
Great stuff, Jason.
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R Owen
20/12/2019 05:41:48 pm
A great victory for the animals, and all because one man cares. We can all care about him now and buy him a Coffee for Christmas! He deserves it
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Graham
20/12/2019 06:07:57 pm
I’m not sure how this is going to work for you supporters.
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Mrs Squirrel Manning
20/12/2019 10:27:57 pm
We could of course just leave it to nature instead if interfering. Sounds like you don't agree with Jason's campaign. Why post then?
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Zoe Wild
21/12/2019 06:03:55 am
You are very correct.
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20/12/2019 06:51:15 pm
Well done Jason - a great example of how to engage with Government. I'm sure your courteous but persistent campaign will be successful in fixing this obviously unsatisfactory approach to licensing. Have a great Christmas!
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Honor Maughan
20/12/2019 08:30:54 pm
Well done sir!
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Lexus Lynx
20/12/2019 08:52:37 pm
Excellent work.
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Susie
21/12/2019 10:59:57 am
Well done! It takes hard work and serious commitment to change things for the better and you achieved that. :) Great to have some good news for once. Let's hope 2020 delivers.
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Giacomo
22/12/2019 06:08:25 pm
It sounds good.
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Howard Crossley
23/1/2020 11:48:03 am
I can't access the list
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