Gamebirds: licence to release common pheasants or red-legged partridges on special areas of conservation or within 500m of their boundary (GL43)
Owners or occupiers of land, or people authorised by them, can use this general licence to release common pheasants or red-legged partridges on special areas of conservation and within their 500m buffer zones.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
You must follow the conditions of general licence GL43 to release common pheasants or red-legged partridges on special areas of conservation and within their 500m buffer zones.
You do not need to apply or register to use this licence, but you must meet its conditions.conditions and report release activity.
If you need help, email: GLenquiries@defra.gov.uk.
Updates to this page
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Updated the licence for 2025. This includes adding a new condition and related advice for biosecurity measures.
Update history
2026-03-09 16:00
Updated the contact details and the reporting form.
2025-10-23 16:45
Added link to new online form for reporting release activity.
2025-05-02 13:12
Updated the licence for 2025. This includes adding a new condition and related advice for biosecurity measures.
2024-05-14 16:56
Updated the information on when you can use this licence. The licence is now valid until 1 February 2025.
2023-12-12 12:15
Updated the text around registering birds and added new link to online service for registering less that 50 birds.
2023-05-31 17:31
First published.