What is the purpose of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981?
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.
How do I reference the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981?
In-text: (Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, n.d.) Your Bibliography: Legislation.gov.uk. n.d. Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Is it illegal to disturb nesting birds UK?
For these bird species it’s also an offence to do the following, either intentionally or by not taking enough care: disturb them while they’re nesting, building a nest, in or near a nest that contains their young.
Are nesting birds protected in UK?
Under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (the primary legislation which protects animals, plants and habitats in the UK), it’s ‘an offence intentionally to kill, injure or take any wild bird, or take or destroy their eggs or nest, or damage a nest, while that nest is in use or being built’.
Is it illegal to disturb birds nests?
It’s not law. “The issue is when the birds are nesting, once a bird’s nest is active, they are protected by law. If it’s accidental, say you are moving something in your garden and you stumble across a bird’s nest and disturb it, that is not intentional and not illegal.
Can you disturb a birds nest?
Moving or destroying nests Birds are at their most vulnerable when nesting. Any disturbance could kill or injure wild birds and their young – or cause parent birds to abandon their nest, eggs and young.
Can you disturb nesting birds?
Are red squirrels protected in UK?
The red squirrel is included in Schedules 5 and 6 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (WCA) which means that it is a protected species. This legislation has subsequently been amended, most recently by the Countryside & Rights of Way Act 2000 (CRoW) for England and Wales.
Is it illegal to cut down a tree with a nest in it?
Can you cut down a tree with a nest in it? If any type of bird is nesting in a tree or hedge then it is legally protected, so long as the nest is in use. This may prohibit certain types of tree pruning or removal until the nesting season is over.
Who enforces Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981?
The police are responsible for enforcing part I of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, often advised by Natural England and will investigate wildlife offences; usually performed by wildlife crime officers (WCOs). The National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) is a law enforcement unit which helps agencies with enforcement.
Can you cut down trees when birds are nesting?
Should you remove old bird nests from trees?
You can definitely clean out a nest box after the fledglings leave—but don’t clean out nests. Why shouldn’t you clean out a used nest? Most birds don’t reuse their old nests, no matter how clean they are. They typically build a new nest in a new location for each clutch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGkc0dD370A