Little whirlpool ramshorn snails: licence to do ditch maintenance (CL14) – temporarily suspended
Register to use a licence to maintain drainage ditches inhabited by little whirlpool ramshorn snails and find out how to report your actions.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
From 1 January 2025 this licence has been temporarily suspended. It needs to be updated before it can be reissued.
The science underpinning our understanding of little whirlpool ramshorn snail ecology has recently advanced. The previous management protocol no longer reflects the actions necessary for the species.
The licence and associated guidance will be rewritten and reissued in the spring of 2025, so that ditching works can progress without harm to the populations of this species.
This licence allows you to maintain drainage ditches and other water bodies inhabited by little whirlpool ramshorn snails (also known as lesser whirlpool ramshorn snails). This licence allows you to:
- injure or kill little whirlpool ramshorn snails
- disturb them
- destroy their eggs
- damage or destroy their breeding sites or resting places
These actions may only be taken to:
- conserve wild animals
- preserve public health or safety
- prevent serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, timber or any other property
You must use the correct management methods detailed in Annex B (available on this page) to carry out your licenced activities.
Register to use this licence
You must register with Natural England before you can use this licence. Send your completed registration form (CL14) by email or post to:
Wildlife licensing
Natural England
Horizon House
Deanery Road
Bristol
BS1 5AH
Email wildlife@naturalengland.org.uk
Telephone 020 8026 1089
How to report your actions
You must report your actions taken using this licence each year, even if you’ve taken no action. Send your completed report form (LR14) to Natural England by 31 January each year using the details on the form.
Licence renewal
By returning your report form each year you’ve renewed your licence. You should check for any amendments to the terms and conditions of use on the latest published version of this licence.
Updates to this page
Published 6 October 2014Last updated 1 January 2025 + show all updates
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From 1 January 2025 this licence will be suspended. It needs to be updated before it can be reissued.
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There is an update to this licence for 1 January 2024.
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Annual licence update, valid from 1 January 2023.
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Annual licence update, valid from 1 January 2022.
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Annual licence update.
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Accessible version of licence added - HTML.
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Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2020
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Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2019. Replaced registration and report forms with updated versions.
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Replaced licence, management protocol and registration form with new versions issued 1 January 2018
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Annual licence update 2017.
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Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2016.
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new version of CL14 valid from 1 January to 31 December 2015.
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First published.