Species licensing

For all protected species listed here a specific licence will be needed in order to carry out works affecting them. Contact Natural England for advice relating to specific species.

Please contact Scottish Natural Heritage if you live in Scotland or Countryside Council for Wales if you are in Wales.

Bats, Wildcat, Dormouse Great crested newt Sand lizard Otter Smooth snake Natterjack toad- these species have specific protection under the Habitats Directive - a European law. Under this it is an offence to deliberately capture, kill, take or disturb a European protected species or to damage or destroy a breeding or resting site of such an animal. Annex IV(a) (Schedule 2) animals include all British bats, great crested newts and dormouse – which are all species known to use ancient woodland. The protection given by the Habitats Directive applies across the UK.
Badgers- badgers are protected in a similar way to the species listed above but their protection is afforded by The Protection of Badgers Act 1992.

All birds are protected when nesting under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). Under Section 1 of the Act it is an offence to intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird, take damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while that nest is in use or being built, or take or destroy an egg of any wild bird.
It is also an offence to disturb any wild bird included in Schedule 1 Part II of the Act while it is building a nest or is in, on or near a nest containing eggs or young, or to disturb the dependent young. It is also an offence to be in possession or control of any bird or egg or any derivative of a wild bird, or to sell such an item, unless it can be shown that it was taken legally from the wild.
Certain birds, listed on Schedule 2 Part III, can be hunted during the open season, without the need for a licence, but a licence is needed to take them for any reason during the close season.
As such works on trees and woods should be undertaken outside of the breeding season (months here). Some birds have further protection- either through special penalties or may only be killed or captured at certain times of the year.

A number of plants are specifically protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is an offence to pick, uproot, trade in, or possess for the purpose of trade, any of the species specifically protected.

You can download the the Wildlife and Countryside Act through the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.


	Part of the Combe Haven Valley is designated as one of Englands best wildlife sites. Photo Derrick Coffee, Hastings Alliance