Deer impacts policy sets 10-year plan to manage wild deer in England

A Forestry Commission policy statement says a third (33%) of English woodlands are now negatively impacted by deer and sets out actions over the next 10 years, including targeted grants, licensing changes, monitoring and support for the wild venison supply chain.

England's wild deer are an established part of the countryside, but evidence cited in the statement shows deer impacts on woodlands have increased in recent decades. The document reports that 33% of English woodlands are negatively affected by deer, up from about 24% in the early 2000s. It sets a 10-year programme of actions led by the Forestry Commission and partners to reduce those impacts and support woodland recovery. The statement emphasises regional and landscape-scale approaches and says delivery will involve public, private and third-sector collaboration. Key points: - The statement reports 33% of English woodlands are negatively impacted by deer, an increase from about 24% in the early 2000s. - Causes cited include land-use change, spread of non-native deer species, and a lack of natural predators, with deer range and abundance rising over the past 50 years. - Proposed actions include continued and improved grant support for deer impact management, mandatory deer management statements in relevant woodland plans, and identification of national priority areas for focused action. - The Forestry Commission has Deer Officers advising landowners; the statement seeks to streamline licensing for night shooting and some close-season controls, while retaining welfare protections. - The document says lethal control, when lawful and following best practice, is currently the most effective option in many areas where exclusion methods are inadequate, and notes existing Countryside Stewardship grants may support such control where approved. - The statement also covers evidence improvements: thermal drone surveys, mandatory monitoring in schemes, research into tree protection alternatives, and support for the wild venison supply chain and quality standards. Summary: The policy statement lays out a decade of coordinated action to reduce deer impacts so woodland natural regeneration and biodiversity can improve. It combines regulatory and grant measures, skills and training, improved monitoring and targeted landscape-scale work, and mentions possible legislative or licensing changes to improve efficiency where needed. Delivery will be monitored through better evidence and collaboration across sectors, and specific national priority areas will be identified for focused management.