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Deer exclosures

Only on woodland, wood pasture, scrub, heathland, and moorland or grassland restoration to protect regeneration of woody species from deer browsing.

It will protect areas of woodland that are approximately 16 square metres in size from deer browsing. This will allow monitoring of the area’s regeneration potential and the impact of browsing.

Agreement holders are likely to need to:

• erect a deer exclosure plot that is at least 1.5m high by 4m by 4m, or if you’re applying for WS1 (Deer Supplement) you can agree alternative specifications with your local deer officer
• make sure the fence meets the specifications set out in the Forestry Commission Forest Fencing Technical Guide, but with no gates
• make sure the fence is inspected at least once a year
• maintain the fence so that deer cannot enter the site for the length of the agreement
• make sure that stakes are large enough to support the exclosure plot for the length of the agreement
• replace any stakes or fencing materials that become damaged during the term of the agreement
• clear debris from the line of the fence
• make the line of the fence smooth enough that the bottom of the fence sits with the ground (there must be no gaps that deer can get through)

What the management plan needs to include

The management plan needs to identify that deer are present on the site and are a threat to it.

Do not:

• cut any vegetation inside the plot

Keeping records

Agreement holders are likely to need to keep the following records and supply them on request:

• any consents or permissions connected with the work
• receipted invoices, or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable
• Forestry Commission Management Plan approval letter if required

More Details:

https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/deer-exclosure-plot-fg11

Deer control and management

£90 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 Deer Management Plan (DMP) – send this with your Initial Application Documents

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 Deer Management Plan in place by the end of the first year
• monitoring reports for year 1, 3 and 5 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 squirrel 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 UKFS compliant operational activities

Additional guidance and advice

Deer Officers will:

• publish and maintain templates for deer habitat impact assessments, cull data, and Deer Management Plans in conjunction 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.

Read Forestry Commission operations note 59 for specifications on deer exclosure plots. For specialist advice contact your local deer officer/woodland officer.

More details

https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/ws1-deer-control-and-management

Deer Fencing

Available for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier and Higher Tier Capital Grants but only on woodland.

It is also available for Countryside Stewardship Capital Grants (SFI pilot) to help you undertake the SFI pilot Farm woodland standard, but only if you also apply for TE4 (Supply and plant a tree) and locate the deer fencing on arable land or improved grassland used for the optional ‘Expand your woodland’ action.

How this item will benefit the environment

It will protect newly created or existing woodland from deer browsing as part of a wider woodland creation or woodland management project.

Requirements

For new agreements you must:

• Meet the fence specifications set out in the tables below (and in the Forestry Commission: Forest Fencing Technical Guide). As an alternative to wooden fence posts, you can use metal fence posts. For Higher Tier you need to agree this with your Natural England Adviser or Forestry Commission Woodland Officer
• Clear debris from the line of the fence
• Make the line of the fence smooth enough that the bottom of the fence sits with the ground (there must be no gaps that deer can enter through)
• Make sure the fence is regularly inspected
• Maintain the fence so that deer cannot enter the land until the trees are large enough that they no longer need to be protected

Specifications for the fence’s woodwork

Species of deer	Endposts and turning posts (metres by centimetres)	Struts (metres by centimetres)	Intermediate stakes (metres by centimetres)	Maximum stake spacing (metres)
Roe	2.8m by 10 to 13cm	2.5m by 8 to 10cm	2.5m by 5 to 8cm	10m
Muntjac	2.8m by 10 to 13cm	2.5m by 8 to 10cm	2.5m by 5 to 8cm	10m
Red/sika/fallow	2.8m by 12 to 18cm	2.5m by 10 to 13cm	2.6m by 8 to 10cm	10m

Specifications for the height of the fence and the size of the mesh

Species of deer	Minimum fence height (metres)	Maximum mesh size (millimetres)
Red and sika	1.8m	200 by 300mm
Fallow	1.8m	200 by 220mm
Roe	1.5m	200 by 150mm
Muntjac	1.5m	75 by 75mm

What the management plan needs to include

You can only use this option on an existing woodland site if your management plan clearly identifies that deer are present and pose a threat to the site. You do not need a woodland management plan where this item is being used to protect newly planted trees using capital item TE4 – Supply and plant tree.

If you have an existing agreement, you must continue to follow the specifications in that agreement.

Keeping records

You must keep the following records and supply them with your payment claim:

• photographs of the completed work

You must keep the following records and supply them on request:

• any consents or permissions connected with the work
• receipted invoices, or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable
• Forestry Commission Management Plan approval letter

The detailed requirements for this item will be tailored to the Higher Tier site. If you are a Higher Tier applicant you should discuss and agree these requirements with your adviser.

Please see the record keeping and inspection requirements as set out in the relevant Higher Tier or Higher Tier Capital Grants guidance for more detail. You can find the latest guidance at Countryside Stewardship: get funding to protect and improve the land you manage.

More Details

https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/deer-fencing-fg9

Deer high seats

£265 per unit.

Where to use this item

Available for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier, Higher Tier Capital Grants and Woodland tree health.

Where this item cannot be used

Where deer fencing has already been erected to keep deer out of the area.

How this item will benefit the environment

It will provide a safe, temporary vantage point from which to cull deer, reducing the impact their browsing has on the land.

Requirements

Agreement holders are likely to need to consider:

• the health and safety of non-authorised users of the seat – eg prominently display British Standard signs prohibiting public access
• the health and safety of authorised users – eg make sure the seat has safety bars, is of an adequate size, and is securely attached to the anchor point
• the protection of the tree, if a tree is used as an anchor point – eg use webbing strops, rather than wire and nails, to attach the seat to the tree

The high seat must be portable, free-standing and made from galvanised tubular or box-section steel.

What the management plan needs to include

The woodland management plan identifies deer are a threat to the woodland’s condition.

Keeping records

Agreement holders will need to keep the following records and supply them on request:

• any consents or permissions connected with the work
• receipted invoices, or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable
• Forestry Commission Management Plan approval letter

Please see the record keeping and inspection requirements as set out in the relevant Higher Tier, Higher Tier Capital Grants or Woodland tree health guidance for more detail. You can find the latest guidance at Countryside Stewardship: get funding to protect and improve the land you manage.

Agreement holders will need to keep the following records and supply them with the claim:

• photographs of the completed work

The detailed requirements for this item will be tailored to the Higher Tier site. Higher Tier applicants should discuss and agree these requirements with their adviser.

Further information

Find more information about constructing high seats in The Deer Initiative’s best practice guide.

https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/deer-high-seat-fy1