Deer are important for our landscape, biodiversity and habitats across the South Downs. They are also much loved and valued for the pleasure they bring. However, each of our six species of wild deer has expanded in numbers and distribution over the past 30 years, some massively and some more modestly, but all with an impact on their environment.
There are a number of places across the South Downs where the National Trust has an active Wildlife Management Plan. These include the Slindon Estate, Harting Down, Woollbeding, Ashcombe Bottom and the Drovers Estate. They are diverse and varied landscapes from woodland, woodland pastures and commons to open fields and chalk grassland. Each Wildlife Management Plan is tailored to take into consideration the landscape, public use and local deer populations. Woodlands, commons, parkland and chalk downland are home to a wealth of plants, birds, bats, butterflies and other invertebrates, many of which are rare in the wider countryside. Many of our sites contain Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation. This means we are required by law to care for the environment in a way that allows this wide variety of flora and fauna to flourish.
There are three types of deer found across National Trust land in the South Downs. They are fallow, muntjac and roe. Fallow deer are medium-sized, the largest reaching nearly 1m at the shoulders. Bucks or stags (male deer) can be recognised by their distinctive antlers with a broad flat centre. Fallow deer come in a variety of colours. You’re most likely to see the dark, or melanistic coloured but tan, spotty, or even white deer can also be seen. Muntjac deer also live in the South Downs, they are small and stocky and are sometimes mistaken for wild boar. Originally brought in from Asia, it is thought that Muntjac deer may have escaped from Woburn in the late 19th century and are now widespread across much of England. They are a solitary species so you will never see them moving as a group. Roe deer is the only native species found in the South Downs. They are a medium sized deer (smaller than fallow) and often appear in small groups of two to three individuals on field margins. In winter they are a dull slate grey and in summer a rusty red. The males have small antlers with up to three points each side. There have also been some possible sightings of red deer, the largest species found in the UK.
As a prey species, deer breed more rapidly than is necessary simply to sustain their population. One hundred roe deer, for example, uncontrolled but allowing for known birth and mortality rates, can grow to as many as one thousand in just ten years. Such a population can only be sustained by pioneering new territory, territory which is no longer available to them as distribution now covers every suitable county of the UK. The times of their activity - predminant;y dawn and dusk - means that many people are unaware of their close proximity and high numbers. In the absence of natural predation it falls to people to manage the ever-growing deer populations, but to manage them with care, with respect and using the best scientific knowledge and research.
Deer management usually means culling to a plan which replicates a similar impact to that of natural predation. However, deer management is more than just culling and can take into account a number of factors and methods to ensure deer populations remain healthy and in balance with their environment. Culling deer carries great responsibility and one of the British Deer Society’s founding principles is the promotion of humane control using the appropriate tools and within best practice guidelines. Deer management should be seen as necessary, beneficial, environmentally responsible and a positive contribution to overall deer welfare. Those who manage deer also love deer and are always looking to protect the health of the herd by being selective in their cull.
Unfortunately, a large deer population has an impact on woodlands. Deer feed extensively on young trees (saplings) which would otherwise grow into mature trees, and on the shoots and leaves of thorny scrub species which prevents them from growing into a dense and varied shrub layer. A strong, healthy and diverse woodland should contain trees and shrubs of a variety of ages, from dense scrub to the medium and large old trees. As young sapling trees are prevented from growing to maturity, the woodlands are becoming increasingly even aged. This lack of diversity puts the future of woodlands at risk because all these trees will reach old age at the same time with no younger trees following on behind them.
Diverse, well-structured woodland is essential to provide habitat for a huge range of birds, insects and other animals and sadly is under threat due to the high numbers of deer. Our woodlands wealth of fungi, invertebrates and flowers that aren’t found in newer woodlands. Many of the special plants have been decimated by the deer in the past but are now beginning to show encouraging signs of recovery due to our current management. Since being released from the deer parks in the XXXXX and without a natural predator, the population increased rapidly. It has become necessary to manage the deer population to ensure the future of biodiversity of this ancient landscape.
We sell the venison that arises from the cull. The income generated by venison sales is significantly less than the cost of the management. We do not gain financially from the cull. Most of the venison is sold to game dealers. The venison is processed and enters the food chain via local farm shops, supermarkets and other local outlets. Some venison also enters the human food chain via a Fair Share scheme which distributes venison to food charities. We also leave some whole carcasses for raptors and other wildlife, as well as for soil nutrients.
Virtuous venison is a Fair Game project. Led by the University of Exeter, the project promotes sustainable deer management, and the sharing of venison across all parts of society. The National Trust is proud to be a partner of this project.
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Winter 2023
This is the busiest time of year and the main culling season that runs from November 1st to March 31st. The days are shorter so the stalkers are extremely busy at this time of the year going out more regularly having been issued new licences by the National Trust for the year.