WS1: Deer control and management
Find out about eligibility and requirements for the deer control and management item.
How much will be paid
£105 per hectare (ha)
Where to use this supplement
It’s available for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier on whole or part parcels where deer have been identified in the Woodland Management Plan. Deer should be identified as a threat to semi-natural woodlands, regeneration and/or where deer browsing negatively impacts on woodland features, ground flora or structure.
If you include this as part of your Higher Tier application, the Forestry Commission will assess your application for this option before you are offered an agreement.
How this supplement will benefit the environment
Effective use of this supplement will:
- reduce deer browsing and grazing impacts to woodlands, ground flora and vulnerable features in the wider landscape enabling damaged ecosystems to recover
- improve woodland structural and species diversity helping to increase resilience to climate change, pests and diseases
- make sure the population of deer is sustainable for the appropriate habitat
Aims
Achieve effective deer management, where deer have been identified as a threat to semi-natural woodlands, regeneration and/or where deer browsing negatively impacts on woodland features, ground flora or structure.
Requirements
- In addition to P2015 under WD2 (baseline option), you should use the Deer Management Plan (DMP) Guide to produce a DMP in collaboration and agreement with your local Deer Officer/Woodland Officer and submit it by the end of year 1. Your DMP should show that you have carried out a baseline deer habitat impact and activity assessment to inform your deer management planning. Your DMP will build on the draft plan that you submit with your Initial Application documents
- In year 1 of your Higher Tier Agreement you should commence erecting additional deer monitoring exclosures. The number and location of deer exclosures will be agreed with the Deer Officer or Woodland Officer. Follow the advice and specifications in Forestry Commission operations note 59 to erect monitoring exclosure plots. You must send photographic monitoring evidence of these plots to your local Deer officer/Woodland officer when you erect them in year 1, 3 and 5 of your agreement
- Carry out agreed levels of culling activity (as agreed with Deer Officer/Woodland Officer in your Deer Management Plan). Provide evidence of culling activity and cull returns to the Deer Officer/Woodland Officer annually, following the guidance and template provided at Forestry Commission operations note
- Provide a report to show annual habitat impact assessments following the guidance and templates. This should include a graded (high/medium/low) impact and activity summary and photographic evidence of the survey. You should carry out habitat impact assessments in all significant woodland habitats and structure types of each woodland across the landholding within the agreement as soon as possible in year 1 (to support the DMP) and then in years 3 and 5.
Keeping records
You must send the following with your application:
- a draft DMP - send this with your initial application documents
You must send the following in the first year of your agreement:
- a DMP in place by the end of the first year
- a record of the number of deer culled
- deer habitat impact assessments
- exclosure plot reports
You must send the following in the third and fifth year of your agreement:
- monitoring reports of the agreement to confirm progress (for example, providing before and after photographs, a record of the number of deer culled and the results of deer monitoring)
You must keep the following records and supply them on request:
- a Forestry Commission approved management plan that justifies the need for this option
- a DMP
- monitoring reports to confirm progress of the agreement (for example providing before and after photographs, a record of the number of deer culled and the results of deer monitoring)
- evidence of activities undertaken through monitoring, photography and marking
- any bank statements, receipted invoices, consents, or permissions connected with the work
- records of all management activity on the option area for each parcel, including an operational site assessment (or similar) to show UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) compliant operational activities
More advice and guidance
We expect all actions agreed in your initial deer plan to start in year 1. Cull records should start from January of year 1, habitat impact assessment and exclosure plot monitoring from the spring.
Deer Officers will:
- publish and maintain templates for deer habitat impact assessments, exclosure plots, cull data, and DMPs working with the National Deer Advisor
- offer support and advise applicants (individually or through group events) to successfully deliver the supplement
- offer awareness sessions on deer management requirements, and training in the use of habitat impact monitoring (deer impact and activity assessments). Applicants should expect to be invited to attend one of the sessions held. These will be organised and run at several locations during each year. For specific details, contact your local deer officer/woodland officer.
You can find guidance and templates in Management Requirements for Woodland Supplement WS1 – Deer Control and Management: operations note 59.
For specialist advice contact your local deer officer/woodland officer.
More information
Read Countryside Stewardship: get funding to protect and improve the land you manage to find out more information about Higher Tier including how to apply.
Updates to this page
Last updated 4 January 2024 + show all updates
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Update to How Much Is Paid
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The 'Additional advice and guidance' section of this supplement has been updated.
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Changed requirement for Deer Management Plan (DMP) - must now be sent with Initial Application documents.
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Update to 'Where to use this supplement' section - If you include this as part of your Higher Tier application, the Forestry Commission will assess your application for this option before you are offered an agreement.
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First published.