Reece Posted August 23, 2012 Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 (edited) Apparently, the law could be changed to make it easier to control pests, including non native invasive species such as grey squirrels. If landowners do not control alien invasive species, the government can enter and do it for them and then charge them for the costs. Basically, landowners will have to control species such as mink and grey squirrels. About time we had a tougher approach. One or two comments from bunny huggers, but most comments are in support. http://www.telegraph...nd-badgers.html It is all talk at the moment though. Discuss. Edited August 23, 2012 by Reece Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted August 24, 2012 Report Share Posted August 24, 2012 (edited) I was under the impression this had been law for quite some time in reguard to animals such as Rabbit's. Like a lot of OTHER laws that seem to make perfect sense it wasn't enforced. What they are planning here seems to simply be, If a land owner fails to control the numbers of certain species then they will send in a heavy mob "most likely a group with a golden handshake" who will charge an extortionate amount to carry out the cull. I am in total agreement with the Grey Squirrel erradication proposals It's not before time. I think they also need to give the EA a kick up the khazi and have more licenses granted for Crayfish trapping also. To refuse on the grounds there are too many is plain lunacy. Perhaps I will have to watch myself as my Family is of Scottish origin. I may be hunted down as I am not a Native species :lol: Edited August 24, 2012 by Lord Geordie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reece Posted August 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2012 I was under the impression this had been law for quite some time in reguard to animals such as Rabbit's. Like a lot of OTHER laws that seem to make perfect sense it wasn't enforced. What they are planning here seems to simply be, If a land owner fails to control the numbers of certain species then they will send in a heavy mob "most likely a group with a golden handshake" who will charge an extortionate amount to carry out the cull. I am in total agreement with the Grey Squirrel erradication proposals It's not before time. I think they also need to give the EA a kick up the khazi and have more licenses granted for Crayfish trapping also. To refuse on the grounds there are too many is plain lunacy. Perhaps I will have to watch myself as my Family is of Scottish origin. I may be hunted down as I am not a Native species :lol: The only changes I would make to it would be to also have a free control service for those who want to control these species but are unable to, and only fine the landowners who just refuse. That way, landowners won't get penalised for being genuinely unable to carry out a cull, and only those who refuse would be punished with a fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted August 24, 2012 Report Share Posted August 24, 2012 Well being a landowner, I'm not to sure about the 'Brilliant News' of being fined, or having shooters forcibally pushed onto our farm, its just a bit vulgar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamekeeper1960 Posted August 24, 2012 Report Share Posted August 24, 2012 I like the report on cats ! does this mean cat could soon be added to general licence ! not befoe time if you ask me ! Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted August 24, 2012 Report Share Posted August 24, 2012 Potentially good, potentially a huge waste of time. an update to the general licence may well be in order and a mechanism to make it easier for species to be put on and taken off would be helpful but it still requires people to be informed and updated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clakk Posted August 24, 2012 Report Share Posted August 24, 2012 yeh and how much extra they gonna charge for your licence to cover these changes remember the freemasons ,sorry ACPO want to double or triple your licence fee so any changes or reviews could be a minefield for us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 Well being a landowner, I'm not to sure about the 'Brilliant News' of being fined, or having shooters forcibally pushed onto our farm, its just a bit vulgar. Kyska, I can see where you are coming from with this comment and i totally agree with you but as a shooter yourself It would only come into effect if you were not doing a reasonable job of vermin control on your land - Which we all assume that you are. Surely this will only effect the landowners who don't bother with vermin control (And I know that there are a few) and could in those cases benefit the shooters by getting them extra permissions for the vermin control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reece Posted August 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 (edited) Kyska, I can see where you are coming from with this comment and i totally agree with you but as a shooter yourself It would only come into effect if you were not doing a reasonable job of vermin control on your land - Which we all assume that you are. Surely this will only effect the landowners who don't bother with vermin control (And I know that there are a few) and could in those cases benefit the shooters by getting them extra permissions for the vermin control. I think the fines will only have to be used where the landowners completely refuse to take part, such as bunny hugger landowners. I didn't think if that last point. In Ireland, isn't there a service which puts farmers in need of pest control in touch with local shooters? Maybe a similar thing would happen over here as a result of the proposed changes. Edited August 25, 2012 by Reece Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustJon Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 Looks fair and responsible to me! Could be the only way to stop grey squirrels completely wiping out the reds we have left on the island. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reece Posted August 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 Looks fair and responsible to me! Could be the only way to stop grey squirrels completely wiping out the reds we have left on the island. It would probably help reduce their numbers nationwide as well, which is a step in the right direction. They really need wiping out if you ask me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 If any of that clap trap ever becomes law I'll send a £100 cheque to H4H. To my knowledge no one has ever been prosecuted for not controlling rabbits, does anyone really think that landowners will be summonsed for having a few squirrels on their land. Invasive plants aside, do we really wish to see government bully boys wandering round the countryside shooting buzzards, cormorants, muntjac and badgers an the Telegraph reports. Yes rewrite the outdated wildlife laws but state shooters controlling vermin is a step to far. I suspect that if DEFRA were to introduce some form of pest control non compliance penalty, it would be in the manner of a deduction from the SFP. Anyway as I said, it will never happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reece Posted August 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 If any of that clap trap ever becomes law I'll send a £100 cheque to H4H. To my knowledge no one has ever been prosecuted for not controlling rabbits, does anyone really think that landowners will be summonsed for having a few squirrels on their land. Invasive plants aside, do we really wish to see government bully boys wandering round the countryside shooting buzzards, cormorants, muntjac and badgers an the Telegraph reports. Yes rewrite the outdated wildlife laws but state shooters controlling vermin is a step to far. I suspect that if DEFRA were to introduce some form of pest control non compliance penalty, it would be in the manner of a deduction from the SFP. Anyway as I said, it will never happen. State shooters would only be used when landowners refuse. If the landowners support the cull, but are unable to do it themselves, then it is likely that shooters will get more permissions for vermin control, as has been mentioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisheruk Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 Well being a landowner, I'm not to sure about the 'Brilliant News' of being fined, or having shooters forcibally pushed onto our farm, its just a bit vulgar. No problem - just get on with the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 No problem - just get on with the job. With an attitude like that I bet you get on well with your local farmers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gimlet Posted September 1, 2012 Report Share Posted September 1, 2012 (edited) I agree with Charlie T. It won't happen. And that's no bad thing. Be very wary when the State takes a sudden interest in your way of life and has ideas of organising it. The previous Government decreed that agriculture was no longer required in Britain. No-one with even the slightest knowledge of farming or wildlife was represented at cabinet level, the Ministry of Agriculture was replaced with DEFRA and the very word agriculture was erased from Government language. That self-same Government will be back in power in 2015, led by an andanoidal urban anti. Be careful what you wish for. Edited September 1, 2012 by Gimlet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scobydog Posted September 3, 2012 Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 Just a thought but if this was passed would that mean the National Trust would have to comply, that would make them squirm a bit, having to allow squirrel culling on their sites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted September 3, 2012 Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 (edited) No problem - just get on with the job. I do 'get on with job', I'm just not happy about someone else telling me when I have a pest problem, and being forced to allow someone to shoot without my permission...they can jog on. Edited September 3, 2012 by kyska Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedeerman Posted September 3, 2012 Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 I do 'get on with job', I'm just not happy about someone else telling me when I have a pest problem, and being forced to allow someone to shoot without my permission...they can jog on. Isn't that called armed trespass? And don't worry Rich, I'll come and help you out before it gets to that stage! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted September 3, 2012 Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 Isn't that called armed trespass? And don't worry Rich, I'll come and help you out before it gets to that stage! Touche fella! Must meet up soon.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimboozle Posted September 25, 2012 Report Share Posted September 25, 2012 I do 'get on with job', I'm just not happy about someone else telling me when I have a pest problem, and being forced to allow someone to shoot without my permission...they can jog on. I have to agree - the thought of being orderd to allow armed men onto your land to sort out the pests seems like a step too far. Whether this ever becomes law or not, re-invigorating the grey squirrel debate is no bad thing. I saw a red a couple of months ago for the first time in ages, and it made my day - my wife had never seen one before! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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