BOESS Course
Barn Owl Ecology, Surveys and Signs course
Our online BOESS training course can be worked through at your own pace. Each module of the course is made up of video presentations and multiple-choice questions. Our team are available via email, phone or Zoom to support you during the course and afterwards (Monday-Friday 10:00-16:00).
This comprehensive course consists of five modules:
- Barn Owl Ecology
- Legal Protection, Licence Applications and Minimising Disturbance
- Survey Methodology and Search Procedures
- Evidence of Occupation
- Mitigation and Planning
We advise allowing 10-15 hours to complete this course.
Please note – you have 6 months from the date of purchase to complete the course.
We recommend our online course as the best way to learn about Barn Owl ecology and surveys. If you have any questions about the course, please email kaye@barnowltrust.org.uk.
Prices
The BOESS course costs £300 per person, which includes a copy of the Barn Owl Conservation Handbook for attendees within mainland UK. If you are outside of mainland UK and wish to receive a copy of the Handbook, please contact us on info@barnowltrust.org.uk or 01364 255 256 to arrange payment for postage.
The Barn Owl Trust offers a discounted rate of £250 per person to anyone whose salary is paid directly by a registered charity. If you would like to apply for this discount rate, please email kaye@barnowltrust.org.uk and attach your proof – for example, a redacted pay slip. Please note that this is the only discount available.
© All content of the BOESS Course* is Copyright, The Barn Owl Trust, Registered Charity No. 1201419
BOESS Add-on Practical Course
Successful completion of the BOESS online course qualifies you to attend the BOESS Add-on Practical Course in Devon within 12 months of completing the online BOESS course (£200 per person). This practical course covers minimising disturbance, search procedure, and interpreting signs of occupation, and includes a presentation, a site visit to a Barn Owl site to carry out a Barn Owl survey and an assessment.
In combination with the BOESS online course certificate, the certificate from this course can be accepted in lieu of one of the two references for a CL29 licence application to Natural England.
Once you have passed the BOESS course, you will be sent information about how to book onto this practical course. Please note, you can only purchase the practical course when you have completed the online course.
If you completed the online BOESS course prior to 6th December 2024, you do not need to have completed the practical course to apply for the CL29 licence to Natural England. Please contact kaye@barnowltrust.org.uk to request a reference. Please attach a copy of your certificate.
![Boess group outside baddaford isolated tab 3 [kaye thomas] 170719 (a)](https://www.barnowltrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/BOESS-group-outside-Baddaford-isolated-TAB-3-Kaye-Thomas-170719-A-scaled.jpg "Boess group outside baddaford isolated tab 3 [kaye thomas] 170719 (a)")
Barn Owl Licences
For specific questions about applying for a licence to disturb Barn Owls, please contact your relevant country agency.
If you are looking to find an ecological consultancy or Barn Owl group to gain experience with in order to get another reference for a licence application, we have a directory on our website with all of our local contacts – you may find a useful contact near you.
England
In combination with the certificate from the online BOESS course, successful completion of the add-on practical day can form the basis for a reference for the CL29 licence application for Natural England. Find out more about the CL29 Licence in England, with guidance notes for applying for protected species licence.
If you completed the online BOESS course prior to 6th December 2024, you do not need to have completed the practical course to apply for the CL29 licence to Natural England. Please contact kaye@barnowltrust.org.uk to request a reference. Please attach a copy of your certificate.
Wales
In combination with the certificate from the online BOESS course, successful completion of the add-on practical day can form the basis for a reference for the Barn Owl licence with Natural Resources Wales. Find out more about the Licence to Disturb Wild Birds Included on Schedule 1 in Wales.
Scotland
In combination with the certificate from the online BOESS course, successful completion of the add-on practical day can form the basis for a reference for the Bird Survey licence application to NatureScot. Find out more about the Bird Survey Licence in Scotland, with accompanying notes for survey and monitoring licences
Northern Ireland
The certificates are accepted as supporting evidence in a licence application to Northern Ireland Environment Agency. Find out more about the Standard Wildlife Licence in Northern Ireland. If you are interested in surveying Barn Owls in Northern Ireland, please contact Katy Bell at Ulster Wildlife Trust: katy.bell@ulsterwildlife.org.
Feedback from course participants
“I thought this was the best ecology-focused course I have done; it was interesting, informative, full of facts and the multiple test format was very challenging, which makes the passing of the course so much more rewarding.”
“I learnt such a lot, even the first few minutes of video really set the scene and was packed with information. There was a lot of heart came across from the presenters. I feel part of something now.”
“Thank you for a brilliant course! It’s not only informative, but empowering to surveyors in instilling confidence and clear guidelines to allow us to support the recovery and resilience of the UK barn owl population (and the species they are connected to).”
“I very much enjoyed it. Excellent learning material, well structured and very thorough.”