Farmers and shooters have described as “ludicrous” and “unworkable” a proposal from Natural England to make them show that they tried to “shoo off” pigeons and other bird pests before taking out their guns and shooting them.
Natural England has launched a consultation on plans to re-write the general and class gun licences, and want to include a “shoo, don’t shoot” proposal for farmers shooting birds that are eating their crops.
It believes farmers must show that they “take reasonable and appropriate steps, such as scaring”, before pigeons are shot, as part of the conditions of getting a shotgun licence.
“Shooting, both to scare and reduce numbers, is both proper and necessary,” protests Barney White-Spunner, executive chairman of the Countryside Alliance, which estimates there are at least 10 million pigeons in the UK causing millions of pounds of damage.
“We saw off this ludicrous proposal when it first reared its head in 2005, but we need to do the same again now. Natural England should let farmers and land managers get on with the job.”
Councillor’s £40 donation to buy their own power grass mower is spurned by Kennet Place waterfront gardeners
