These Regulations, which extend to England and Wales, have been made for the purpose of section 6(5)(b) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (“the 1981 Act”). They implement certain obligations under Articles 2, 5 and 6 of Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the conservation of wild birds (OJ No. L 20, 26.1.2010, p. 7).