The Deer Initiative and landscape scale deer management
The Deer Initiative (DI) held its annual National Field Meeting at Fingle in May 2019. The chairman Henry Robinson introduced the day and the local DI Representative John Stowers hosted the event along with David Rickwood, Mick Jones and Fred Hutt from the Fingle Team.The impacts of these majestic-looking creatures are felt at Fingle Woods, and their population in its current numbers can sit at odds with ancient woodland restoration. While deer are a national issue, the population of deer in the south west has changed rapidly in recent years, as the DI explains: “The main expansion of deer populations having happened in the last twenty-five years. Prior to that deer had probably been absent in some areas since medieval times.” This highlights the importance of managing the local deer population at a landscape scale, co-operating with all landowners, managers and other stakeholders in the area. And this is why Fingle Woods is working with the DI to sustainably manage the local deer population.
vegetation types by removing physical protection and altering light levels. On the other hand, a complete lack of grazing can allow for the growth of coarse vegetation which can smother the ground layer and decrease diversity.” He then goes on to conclude, “The results of this study suggested that a high intensity of browsing by deer is bad for diversity and natural regeneration. A certain level of browsing seems to be necessary to control coarse vegetation; this suggests that a smaller, more mobile deer population would be ideal from the perspective of woodland management and conservation.”And this is where our work with the Deer Initiative comes in. They are experts in deer management on a landscape scale. Wild deer are a national issue, but it is at a local or landscape level that their impacts are felt most. This means that sustainable management can only be achieved by co-operation at a local level, using collaboration between local landowners, managers and other stakeholders who can operate at a landscape scale.
During their National Field Meeting at Fingle, DI colleagues walked around the site and visited a number of deer exclosures to both set the scene and to discuss the deer management strategy at Fingle. They were particularly interested in areas where annual vegetation transects were undertaken by Devon Wildlife Enterprises. These have been set up to determine how selective deer grazing impacts on the diversity of species and what the impacts this might have for invertebrates and in particular those that are specialists of particular plants. Talk about Jack’s dissertation study also led to discussions about woodland structure and what might be “normal” in the absence of deer in terms of species and woodland structure.An amazing spread of Wild Charcuterie was brought in for the day, it consisted of: venison sausage; venison sausage rolls; venison and quail's egg Scotch eggs; cold smoked venison; venison terrine with pink peppercorns; venison bresaola; roe liver pate; fallow liver pate and venison game pie.
Both the Deer Initiative Chairman David Robinson and Executive Director David Jam expressed “that it was probably the best visit they had ever had, having received many favourable comments from the partners who have been on a number of visits over the years. I believe it was a complete success, the weather was kind to us and there was so much for them to see and they left with a far better understanding of the difficulties of Deer Management in the South West. I hope that it will prove beneficial to us all in the future.”Words by Emma Fancett, featured image of stag by Paul Moody
During their National Field Meeting at Fingle, DI colleagues walked around the site and visited a number of deer exclosures to both set the scene and to discuss the deer management strategy at Fingle. They were particularly interested in areas where annual vegetation transects were undertaken by Devon Wildlife Enterprises. These have been set up to determine how selective deer grazing impacts on the diversity of species and what the impacts this might have for invertebrates and in particular those that are specialists of particular plants. Talk about Jack’s dissertation study also led to discussions about woodland structure and what might be “normal” in the absence of deer in terms of species and woodland structure.An amazing spread of Wild Charcuterie was brought in for the day, it consisted of: venison sausage; venison sausage rolls; venison and quail's egg Scotch eggs; cold smoked venison; venison terrine with pink peppercorns; venison bresaola; roe liver pate; fallow liver pate and venison game pie.Both the Deer Initiative Chairman David Robinson and Executive Director David Jam expressed “that it was probably the best visit they had ever had, having received many favourable comments from the partners who have been on a number of visits over the years. I believe it was a complete success, the weather was kind to us and there was so much for them to see and they left with a far better understanding of the difficulties of Deer Management in the South West. I hope that it will prove beneficial to us all in the future.”Words by Emma Fancett, featured image of stag by Paul Moody
