Birmingham Gun Quarter – latest update

23 May 2012

On Tuesday 22nd May an information panel on Birmingham’s gun quarter was unveiled by Birmingham City Council near the Gunmakers Arms on Little Shadwell Street. This follows a worldwide campaign to save the name of the gun quarter. Sadly, Tony Treadwell, who lead the campaign, passed away on Easter Saturday. The campaign will be continued by representatives of the Birmingham gun trade with the support of BASC.

Bracken control – latest update

17 May 2012

Asulam is the only selective herbicide available for bracken control. New EU regulations ban the sale of Asulam but existing stocks may be used up in 2012. A new system for approving aerial spraying of Asulam is expected to be operational by June. The Bracken Control Group is urging landowners and managers to contact their aerial spraying companies immediately to secure advance orders.

Northern Ireland Marine Bill - latest update

11 May 2012

On 10th May BASC and Countryside Alliance Ireland gave a joint presentation to the NI Environment Committee on the contents of a draft NI Marine Bill. Thank you to everyone that supported the recent vote NO campaign in a web poll on the Bill. The resounding no vote helped us make a strong case for changes to be made to certain clauses in the Bill.

EU invasive alien species survey

23 April 2012

A short but important online survey took place from 27th January to 12th April. Organised by the European Commission it asked people across Europe for their views on tackling invasive alien species. BASC raised awareness of the survey and submitted its response.

Is your wildfowling threatened by reference areas?

13 April 2012

Reference areas, where all human activity could be banned, are being proposed as part of a suite of marine conservation zones in English waters. BASC is working to protect wildfowling interests at Blakeney marsh and within the Stour estuary where two of the 65 reference areas have been proposed. Are there any more reference areas that BASC should be aware of?

Schmallenberg virus – precautionary note

15 March 2012

Schmallenberg virus is a new emerging livestock disease that has been detected in the UK. This is not a notifiable disease and it has not yet been detected in goats or deer in the UK. Use this briefing to find out more about the virus and its clinical signs in animals.

Shooting in woodlands ticks all the boxes

22 February 2012

BASC believes that a truly public forest must give equal treatment and access for all woodland users. If this results in free or low cost shooting opportunities then these will be complemented by increased wildlife and habitat management benefits and will be a glowing example of the big society in action. BASC is playing a key role in the future direction of forestry and woodland policy in England.

Scotland Bill - latest update

6 February 2012

Clause 11 in the Scotland Bill would give the Scottish Parliament the power to create its own legislation on low-powered airguns. BASC opposes the proposal and is lobbying against it. On 2nd February amendments to Clause 11 were debated in the House of Lords. Amendments ranged from the devolution of all firearms law to preventing the Scottish Government from passing any airgun legislation without proper consultation.

Thomas Docherty's Private Member's Bill will fail

3 February 2012

A proposed Firearms (Amendment) Bill, introduced by Thomas Docherty MP, to ban under-14s from holding shotgun certificates has effectively run out of time in the Commons and will fail. Holding a shotgun certificate does not allow children unsupervised access to shotguns and children applying for a certificate must apply in the same way as an adult. BASC opposed the Bill because the current law works safely and well.

Hooded crows remain on pest birds list

19 January 2012

BASC would like to thank Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Jim Paice for stopping last minute proposals to remove hooded crows from the 2012 pest birds list. On 30th December Mr Paice asked officials in Natural England to leave the reference to ‘crow’ (ie. carrion and hooded crow) in the English general licences unchanged pending further discussion with stakeholders.