Red squirrels and pine martens: licence to sell dead specimens (GL20)
Get a general licence to sell dead wild red squirrels and pine martens.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
With this general licence you can sell and advertise that you are selling dead wild:
- red squirrels
- pine martens
You must provide evidence with each sale to prove that the specimen was legally acquired.
You do not need to apply for this general licence but you must meet its conditions and follow its instructions.
Records you need to keep
As these wild animals are normally protected, you must keep records for 2 years from each sale. For the sale of every animal (or its part or derivative) you need to record:
- from whom you acquired it
- to whom you sold it
- the species, age and cause of death (if known)
By 31 December each year you must send Natural England the details of any dead wild animals you’ve sold in that year that have not previously been sold. You should send the details by email to wildlife@naturalengland.org.uk. You need to state:
- how you acquired each animal
- the type and number of each species sold
Details
With this general licence you can sell and advertise that you are selling dead wild:
- red squirrels
- pine martens
You must provide evidence with each sale to prove that the specimen was legally acquired.
You do not need to apply for this general licence but you must meet its conditions and follow its instructions.
Records you need to keep
As these wild animals are normally protected, you must keep records for 2 years from each sale. For the sale of every animal (or its part or derivative) you need to record:
- from whom you acquired it
- to whom you sold it
- the species, age and cause of death (if known)
By 31 December each year you must send Natural England the details of any dead wild animals you’ve sold in that year that have not previously been sold. You should send the details by email to wildlife@naturalengland.org.uk. You need to state:
- how you acquired each animal
- the type and number of each species sold
Updates to this page
Last updated 1 January
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1 January 2025 Updated this licence to cover the period 1 January to 31 December 2025. Reworded several sections to make the information clearer.
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1 January 2024 There is an update to this licence for 1 January 2024.
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1 January 2023 Annual licence update, valid from 1 January 2023.
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1 January 2022 Annual licence update, valid from 1 January 2022.
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1 January 2021 Annual licence update.
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23 November 2020 Accessible version of licence added - HTML.
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1 January 2020 Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2020
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1 January 2019 Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2019
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1 January 2018 Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2018
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1 January 2017 Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2017
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1 January 2016 Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2016.
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1 January 2015 new version of GL20 valid 1 January to 31 December 2015
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31 December 2013 First published.
Update history
2026-01-01 00:01
Updated this licence to cover the period 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2030.
2025-01-01 00:01
Updated this licence to cover the period 1 January to 31 December 2025. Reworded several sections to make the information clearer.
2024-01-01 00:01
There is an update to this licence for 1 January 2024.
2023-01-01 00:15
Annual licence update, valid from 1 January 2023.