Guidance and regulation

Terms and conditions for paying for a wildlife licence to carry out work that affects wildlife and its habitat.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 1 October 2021

How to assess a planning application when there are white-clawed crayfish on or near a proposed development site.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 26 October 2023

Register for a licence to survey great crested newts for research, conservation or development projects.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 1 January 2024

Use this licence to take shrews to ring or mark them, or for scientific or educational purposes.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 1 January 2024

Owners or occupiers of land, or people authorised by them, can use this general licence to release common pheasants or red-legged partridges on certain European sites or within their 500m buffer zones.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 14 May 2024

Register for a licence to survey white-clawed crayfish for research, conservation or development projects.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 1 January 2024

How MMO byelaws are made and what they protect.

• From: Marine Management Organisation
• Updated: 17 January 2023

Register for a licence to catch and relocate white-clawed crayfish for maintenance work on water bodies and find out how to report your actions.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 1 January 2024

Find out when you must consult Natural England or the Environment Agency if you're preparing plans or considering development proposals.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and 2 others
• Updated: 6 December 2023

Use Natural England’s advice packages to find out if your activity, proposal or area has a potential impact on MPAs and the species and habitats within them.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 16 May 2016

How to notify the Marine Management Organisation that you are carrying out a seismic or geophysical survey.

• From: Marine Management Organisation
• Updated: 5 January 2022

Register for a licence to survey bats using mist nets and acoustic lures for research, conservation or development projects.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 6 March 2024

Find out how the Forestry Commission supports you if you operate in woodland designated a site of special scientific interest (SSSI).

• From: Forestry Commission and 1 others
• Updated: 9 July 2018

How to assess a planning application when there are invertebrates on or near a proposed development site.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 25 October 2023

Register for a licence to survey bats using harp traps for research, conservation or development projects.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 6 March 2024

How to assess a planning application when there are freshwater pearl mussels on or near a proposed development site.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 25 October 2023

Use Natural England's advice to protect European sites and find out if your activity or proposal may potentially impact the species and habitats within them.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 15 May 2015

Get a licence to interfere with badger setts for the purpose of conducting forestry operations.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 1 January 2024

Get conservation advice on the impact of activity on a marine site and find out the status of advice using the interactive map.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 10 October 2023

Advice for licensed operators on how to cage-trap, vaccinate and mark badgers to control bovine tuberculosis (TB) in England.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and 1 others
• Updated: 28 March 2024