Assurance scheme for wild venison launches

The Government has launched a new wild venison quality assurance scheme, which aims to support the sustainable management of deer

A new scheme to boost consumers’ confidence in the venison market and support the sustainable management of wild deer in the countryside has been launched.

According to the Government, the UK’s deer population is believed to be at its highest level for 1,000 years, with some two million deer in our countryside and semi-urban areas. A growing deer population with no natural predator puts more browsing pressure on woodland ground flora through their consumption of tree shoots, shrubs and woody vegetation that sequester carbon.