Oh, deer–are they out of control?

With most of our six deer species increasing in range and numbers, Joe Gibbs considers what can be done to bring populations back to more manageable levels

- Joe Gibbs

CONSIDERING the poor press that deer attract among foresters, it is ironic that of the 23 most important sites for ancient oaks in England, 20 were deer parks, 16 of which were medieval. Despite the presence of the animals, native trees found protection within the park boundaries of ditch, earthwork and cleft-oak paling fence, because felling for firewood and building was prohibited and deer numbers would have been strictly controlled. Today, it is the descendants of those fallow deer brought over by the Normans— to join the native red and roe deer in populating those parks—that are the greatest cervine problem for landowners.

In counties such as Norfolk and Northamptonshire, huge herds of up to 300 beasts infest safe areas where they find sanctuary from being shot and, from there, invade neighbouring properties, leaving a trail of destruction. Young tree populations in semi-natural native woodland or unfenced forestry are devoured. In some woods, the entire understorey is missing and the high browse line allows a view right through the wood. There is no regeneration and all the ground flora is hoovered up as well.