Rewilding in England & Wales: Legal Guidance Notes

This note covers rewilding and:

• Planning permission and when it is required
• Special considerations applicable to non-developed land
• Material changes of use
• Environmental Impact Assessments (including for forestry)

This note covers rewilding and:

• Key designated areas for the protection of nature and limitations on managing these areas
• Proposed legislative reform to designated areas of protection

This note covers rewilding and:

• Obligations to control the spread onto agricultural land of native plants that can be toxic to livestock or interfere with the growing of crops (including ragwort)
• Offences relating to growing certain non-native of species in the wild
• Protected species of plant and the implications for rewilders

This note covers rewilding and:

• Different forms of public access to rewilding land
• Rewilder responsibilities and obligations

This note covers rewilding and:

• Liability for damage caused by animals under common law and statute
• Defences available to rewilders responsible for animals

This note covers rewilding and:

• Potential liability to neighbouring landholders where rewilding activities damage or otherwise disturb their enjoyment of their land

This note covers rewilding and:

• Civil and criminal liabilities relating to individuals entering land
• Discharging liability and defences for rewilders

This note covers rewilding and:

• Licences and statutory requirements relating to the reintroduction of animals
• Animal welfare obligations before and after reintroduction

This note covers rewilding and:

• Conservation covenants: their use for rewilding and how they work
• Private law protection of rewilding land

This note covers rewilding and:

• Its impact on various tax regimes

This note covers rewilding and:

• Basic Payment Scheme and phase-out
• English Countryside Stewardship Scheme
• Rural Development Programmes in Wales

This note covers rewilding and:

• Environmental Land Management schemes (“ELMs”) in England
• Sustainable Farming Scheme (“SFS”) in Wales