Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Part I Wildlife
Protection of birds
1 Protection of wild birds, their nests and eggs.
2 Exceptions to s. 1.
3 Areas of special protection.
4 Exceptions to ss. 1 and 3.
5 Prohibition of certain methods of killing or taking wild birds.
6 Sale etc. of live or dead wild birds, eggs etc.
7 Registration etc. of certain captive birds.
8 Protection of captive birds.
Protection of other animals
9 Protection of certain wild animals.
10 Exceptions to s. 9.
11 Prohibition of certain methods of killing or taking wild animals.
12 Protection of certain mammals.
Protection of plants
13 Protection of wild plants.
Miscellaneous
14 Introduction of new species etc.
14ZASale etc. of invasive non-native species
14ZBCodes of practice in connection with invasive non-native species
14AProhibition on sale etc. of certain animals or plants
14BGuidance: non-native species
15 Endangered species (import and export).
15APossession of pesticides
Supplemental
16 Power to grant licences.
17 False statements made for obtaining registration or licence etc.
18 Attempts to commit offences etc.
18AWildlife inspectors
18BGroup 1 offences and licences: power to enter premises
18CGroup 1 offences and licences: examining specimens and taking samples
18DGroup 2 offences and licences etc.: power to enter premises
18EGroup 2 offences: examining specimens and taking samples
18FRestrictions on taking of samples from live specimens
19 Enforcement.
19XAConstables' powers in connection with samples
19XBOffences in connection with enforcement powers
19ZA Enforcement: wildlife inspectors.
19ZB Power to take samples.
19ZCWildlife inspectors: Scotland
19ZDPower to take samples: Scotland
19A Evidence in Scotland as to taking or destruction of eggs.
20 Summary prosecutions.
21 Penalties, forfeitures etc.
22 Power to vary Schedules.
23 Advisory bodies and their functions.
24 Functions of Nature Conservancy Council.
25 Functions of local authorities.
26 Regulations, orders, notices etc.
26AEnforcement of wildlife legislation
27 Interpretation of Part I.
27ZAApplication of Part 1 to England and Wales
Part II Nature Conservation, Countryside and National Parks
Nature conservation
27A Construction of references to Nature Conservancy Council.
27AAApplication of sections 28 to 34 in Wales
28 Areas of special scientific interest.
28A Variation of notification under section 28.
28B Notification of additional land.
28C Enlargement of SSSI.
28CAGuidance in relation to subtidal notifications of SSSIs
28CBPower to call in subtidal notifications
28D Denotification.
28E Duties in relation to sites of special scientific interest.
28F Appeals in connection with consents.
28G Statutory undertakers, etc.: general duty.
28H Statutory undertakers, etc.: duty in relation to carrying out operations.
28I Statutory undertakers, etc.: duty in relation to authorising operations.
28J Management schemes.
28K Management notices.
28L Appeals against management notices.
28M Payments.
28N Compulsory purchase.
28P Offences.
28Q Change of owner or occupier.
28R Byelaws.
28SNotices and signs relating to SSSIs
29 Special protection for certain areas of special scientific interest.
30 Compensation where order is made under s. 29.
31 Restoration where order under s. 29 is contravened.
32 Duties of agriculture Ministers with respect to areas of special scientific interest.
33 Ministerial guidance as respects areas of special scientific interest.
34 Limestone pavement orders.
35 National nature reserves.
36 Marine nature reserves.
37 Byelaws for protection of marine nature reserves.
37A Ramsar sites.
38 Grants and loans by Nature Conservancy Council.
Nature reserves, marine nature reserves and Ramsar sites
34AMeaning of “appropriate conservation body”
35APower to call in subtidal declarations
Countryside
39 Management agreements with owners and occupiers of land.
40 Experimental schemes.
41 Duties of agriculture Ministers with respect to the countryside.
National Parks
41AApplication of sections 42 to 45 in Wales
42 Notification of agricultural operations on moor and heath in National Parks.
43 Maps of National Parks showing certain areas of moor or heath.
44 Grants and loans for purposes of National Parks.
45 Power to vary order designating National Park.
46 Membership of National Park authorities.
Miscellaneous and supplemental
47 Provisions with respect to the Countryside Commission.
48. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
49 Extension of power to appoint wardens.
50 Payments under certain agreements offered by authorities.
51 Powers of entry.
51ASummary prosecutions
52 Interpretation of Part II.
Part III Public Rights of Way
Ascertainment of public rights of way
53 Duty to keep definitive map and statement under continuous review.
53A Power to include modifications in other orders.
53B Register of applications under section 53.
54 Duty to reclassify roads used as public paths.
54A BOATs not to be added to definitive maps.
55 No further surveys or reviews under the 1949 Act.
56 Effect of definitive map and statement.
57 Supplementary provisions as to definitive maps and statements.
57A Consolidation of definitive maps and statements.
58 Application of ss. 53 to 57 to inner London.
Miscellaneous and supplemental
59 Prohibition on keeping bulls on land crossed by public rights of way.
60. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
61 Ploughing of public rights of way.
62 Appointment of wardens for public rights of way.
63 Orders creating, extinguishing or diverting footpaths and bridleways.
64 Publication of dedication of footpaths and bridleways.
65 Signposting of byways open to all traffic.
66 Interpretation of Part III.
Part IV Miscellaneous and General
66AApplication of Part 1 to Crown
67 Application to Crown.
68 Application to the Isles of Scilly.
69 Offences by bodies corporate etc.
70 Financial provisions.
70A Service of notices.
70BEffect of failure to serve certain notices
71 General interpretation.
72 Minor amendments.
73 Repeals and savings.
74 Short title commencement and extent.
SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE ZA1Birds which re-use their nests
Schedule A1Protected nests and nest sites: birds
SCHEDULE 1 Birds which are Protected by Special Penalties
Part I At All Times
Part II During the Close Season
Schedule 1ABirds which are protected from harassment
SCHEDULE 2 Birds Which May Be Killed or Taken
Part I Outside the Close Season
Part II By Authorised Persons at all Times
SCHEDULE 3 Birds which may be Sold
Part I Alive at all Times if Ringed and Bred in Captivity
Part II Dead at all Times
Part III Dead from 1st September to 28th February
SCHEDULE 4 Birds Which Must Be Registered and Ringed if Kept in Captivity
SCHEDULE 5 Animals which are Protected
SCHEDULE 6 Animals which may not be Killed or Taken by Certain Methods
SCHEDULE 7 PROTECTION OF CERTAIN MAMMALS
The Ground Game Act 1880
1(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 6 of the Ground...
The Agriculture (Scotland) Act 1948
2(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 50(1)(a) of the Agriculture...
The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953
3(1) At the end of subsection (2) of section 1...
The Deer Act 1963
4For subsection (3) of section 10 of the Deer Act...
5(1) After section 10 of that Act there shall be...
6(1) In paragraph 1 of Schedule 2 to that Act...
The Conservation of Seals Act 1970
7(1) In subsection (1)(c) of section 10 of the Conservation...
The Badgers Act 1973
8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SCHEDULE 8 Plants which are Protected
SCHEDULE 9 Animals and plants to which section 14 applies
Part I Animals which are established in the wild
Part II Plants
SCHEDULE 10 Amendment of the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976
Part I The Amendments
Licences
1(1) After subsection (3) of section 1 of the 1976...
Expenses of returning animals and plants to the wild
2After subsection (8) of section 1 of the 1976 Act...
Powers of entry
3After the subsection inserted by paragraph 2 as subsection (9)...
Power to modify Schedules
4(1) In paragraph (c) of section 3 of the 1976...
Sale of certain animals or plants or their derivatives
5(1) In subsection (1) of section 4 of the 1976...
Part II Schedule inserted as Schedule 4
SCHEDULE 4 Animals the Sale etc. of Which is Restricted
MAMMALS
1The kinds of mammal specified in the first column below—...
Marsupials
Primates
Edentates
Pangolins
Rabbits and hares
Rodents
Cetaceans
Carnivores
Seals
Elephants
Sea-cows
Odd-toed ungulates
Even-toed ungulates
BIRDS
2The kinds of bird specified in the first column below—...
Rheas
Tinamous
Penguins
Grebes
Albatrosses
Pelican-like birds
Storks
Waterfowl
Diurnal Birds of Prey
Gamebirds
Cranes and rails
Waders and Gulls
Pigeons and doves
Parrots
Hummingbirds
Trogons
Owls
Hornbills
Woodpeckers
Songbirds
REPTILES The kinds of reptile specified in the first column below—...
REPTILES
3The kinds of reptile specified in the first column below—...
Crocodilians
Iguanas
Lizards
Snakes
Tuatara
Chelonians
AMPHIBIANS The kinds of amphibian specified in the first column...
AMPHIBIANS
The kinds of amphibian specified in the first column below—...
FISH The kinds of fish specified in the first column below—...
FISH
5The kinds of fish specified in the first column below—...
MOLLUSCS The kinds of mollusc specified below— Conradilla caelata Dromus dromas...
MOLLUSCS
6The kinds of mollusc specified below— Conradilla caelata Dromus dromas...
Part III
Schedule inserted as Schedule 5
SCHEDULE 5
Plants the sale etc. of which is restricted
SCHEDULE 10A Delegation of appellate functions
Interpretation
1In this Schedule— “ appointed person ” means a person...
Appointments
2An appointment under section 28F(8) or 28L(10) must be in...
Powers of appointed person
3Subject to the provisions of this Schedule, an appointed person...
Holding of local inquiries and other hearings by appointed persons
4(1) If either of the parties to an appeal or...
Revocation of appointments and making of new appointments
5(1) Where under paragraph 2(c) the appointment of the appointed...
Certain acts and omissions of appointed persons to be treated as those of the Secretary of State
6(1) Anything done or omitted to be done by an...
SCHEDULE 11 Procedure in connection with Certain Orders under Part II
Coming into operation
1(1) An original order or a restrictive amending order shall...
Publicity for orders
2(1) Where an order takes effect immediately, the authority making...
Unopposed orders
3(1) Where an order made by a relevant authority takes...
Opposed orders
4(1) If any representation or objection duly made with respect...
Restriction on power to amend orders or confirm them with modifications
5The Secretary of State shall not by virtue of paragraph...
Notice of final decision on orders
6(1) The Secretary of State shall as soon as practicable...
Proceedings for questioning validity of orders
7(1) This paragraph applies to any order which has taken...
Interpretation
8In this Schedule— “amending order” and “revoking order” mean an...
SCHEDULE 12 Procedure in Connection With Orders Under Section 36
Consultation
1Before making an order, the Secretary of State shall consult...
Publicity for draft orders
2(1) Before making an order, the Secretary of State shall...
Unopposed orders
3If no representations or objections are duly made, or if...
Opposed orders
4(1) If any representation or objection duly made is not...
Restriction on power to make orders with modifications
5(1) The Secretary of State shall not make an order...
Local inquiries
6(1) The provisions of subsections (2) to (5) of section...
Notice of making of orders
7(1) As soon as practicable after an order is made,...
Proceedings for questioning validity of orders
8(1) If any person is aggrieved by an order which...
Supplemental
9(1) In this Schedule— “area” includes district or Welsh county...
SCHEDULE 13 Provisions With Respect to the Countryside Commission
Status
1The Commission shall be a body corporate.
2The Commission shall not be regarded as the servant or...
Members
3(1) The Commission shall consist of a chairman and such...
4(1) The Commission— (a) shall pay to their members such...
Committee for Wales
5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Procedure
6The procedure (including the quorum) of the Commission shall be...
7The validity of any proceeding of the Commission shall not...
Staff
8(1) The Commission shall appoint— (a) with the approval of...
9(1) The Commission shall in the case of such of...
10(1) Employment with the Commission shall be included among the...
Accounts and report
11(1) The Commission shall keep proper accounts and other records,...
12The Commission shall furnish the Secretary of State with such...
13(1) The Commission shall, as soon as possible after the...
Land
14The Commission, for the purpose of providing themselves with office...
15Any land occupied by the Commission shall, for the purpose...
Interpretation
16In this Schedule— “appointed day” means the day appointed for...
SCHEDULE 14 Applications for Certain Orders Under Part III
Form of applications
1An application shall be made in the prescribed form and...
Notice of applications
2(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), the applicant shall serve a...
Determination by authority
3(1) As soon as reasonably practicable after receiving a certificate...
Appeal against a decision not to make an order
4(1) Where the authority decide not to make an order,...
Interpretation
5(1) In this Schedule— “application” means an application under section...
SCHEDULE 15 Procedure in Connection with Certain Orders Under Part III
Consultation
1Before making an order, the authority shall consult with every...
Coming into operation
2An order shall not take effect until confirmed either by...
Publicity for orders
3(1) On making an order, the authority shall give notice...
Representations or objections made with respect to abandoned surveys or reviews
4(1) This paragraph applies where a survey begun under sections...
Severance of orders
5(1) Where at any time representations or objections duly made...
Unopposed orders
6(1) If no representations or objections are duly made, or...
Opposed orders
7(1) If any representation or objection duly made is not...
Restriction on power to confirm orders with modifications
8(1) The Secretary of State shall not confirm an order...
Local inquiries
9The provisions of subsections (2) to (5) of section 250...
Appointment of inspectors etc.
10(1) A decision of the Secretary of State under paragraph...
Hearings and local inquiries
10A(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), subsections (2) to (5) of...
Notice of final decisions on orders
11(1) As soon as practicable after a decision to confirm...
Proceedings for questioning validity of orders
12(1) If any person is aggrieved by an order which...
Supplemental
13(1) The Secretary of State may, subject to the provisions...
SCHEDULE 16 Orders Creating, Extinguishing or Diverting Footpaths or Bridleways
1—4. . . . . . . . . ....
The Highways Act 1980
5(1) In subsection (1) of section 119 of the Highways...
6(1) In sub-paragraphs (1)(b) and 2(b) of paragraph I of...
7After paragraph 2 of that Schedule there shall be inserted...
8(1) In paragraph 4 of that Schedule after the words...
9After that paragraph there shall be inserted the following paragraph—...
Supplemental
10(1) The amendments made by the foregoing provisions of this...
SCHEDULE 17 Enactments repealed
Part I Enactments repealed one month after the passing of this Act
Part II Enactments repealed on a day to be appointed

Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

1981 c. 69

An Act to repeal and re-enact with amendments the Protection of Birds Acts 1954 to 1967 and the Conservation of Wild Creatures and Wild Plants Act 1975; to prohibit certain methods of killing or taking wild animals; to amend the law relating to protection of certain mammals; to restrict the introduction of certain animals and plants; to amend the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976; to amend the law relating to nature conservation, the countryside and National Parks and to make provision with respect to the Countryside Commission; to amend the law relating to public rights of way; and for connected purposes.

Annotations:
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1

Act amended (1.4.1996) by S.I. 1996/593, reg. 2 , Sch. 1

Act: certain functions transferred (E.W.) (19.9.1995) by 1995 c. 25, ss. 69(1), 125(2) (with ss. 7(6), 115, Sch. 8 para. 7)