Deer management strategy
Applies to England
Read the full outcome
Detail of outcome
We received 2,101 responses to this consultation. Defra thanks all of those who considered these proposals and provided comments.
Defra consulted on key strategy proposals from 4 August to 2 September 2022.
This document provides a summary of responses to the public consultation on proposals to manage the impacts of deer on trees, woodlands and forests in England, and outlines how these have shaped the final policy.
We have now published the deer impacts policy statement that sets out the actions we will take in England over the next decade to manage the impacts of wild deer on our treescape.
Original consultation
Consultation description
We are consulting on proposals to help control and manage the impacts of deer in England to better protect the natural environment and woodlands whilst improving animal welfare standards.
Excessive deer grazing affects the sustainability of existing woodlands and new tree planting, harms our native biodiversity, and damages agricultural crops and trees managed for timber.
The proposals set out within the consultation will help us make further progress to meet our biodiversity and tree planting targets. We are committed to meeting the Environment Act target to increase woodland cover to at least 16.5% of total land area in England by 2050.
Please visit the consultation page.
Updates to this page
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Added the summary of responses and government response. Also deleted and updated text in the consultation description to make factual corrections, and updated to reflect policy changes under new government.
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First published.