Natural England increases costs of new cull challenges

Natural England is seeking to increase the potential financial costs for Wild Justice and the Badger Trust, as they mount a legal challenge against the Government’s decision to issue supplementary badger culling licences in England. 

The new licences are set to run until 1 July 2025 in 24 areas that are in their first, second or fifth years of culling. The culls began in 2013 to eradicate bovine tuberculosis, which is carried by badgers. 

Wild Justice and the Badger Trust argue that Natural England (NE) is attempting to make it more financially difficult for them to pursue legal action by increasing the adverse cost cap. 

Under the Aarhus Convention, the usual cost cap that protects smaller groups in public interest cases is £10,000. 

However, NE is reportedly seeking to raise this cap to £30,000 for the Badger Trust and £20,000 for Wild Justice if they lose the case. The Badger Trust has initiated several unsuccessful legal challenges against the cull, which have incurred significant costs for taxpayer-funded Defra and NE. 

Despite a manifesto pledge to end badger culling, the Labour Government recently announced that it may continue until 2029, with a goal to transition from culling to vaccination during this period.