eAlert: 2 May 2023
Published 2 May 2023
Applies to England
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1. National quality assurance scheme for wild venison launches
1.1 Scheme to improve traceability and customer confidence in wild venison launched yesterday.
The UK’s deer population is believed to be at around two million, its highest level for 1000 years. 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. Increased wild deer management is essential if we are to protect existing woodland and newly planted saplings, meet England’s tree planting targets, protect agricultural crops and biodiversity and increase carbon stocks in woodlands.
Open to applicants in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (Scottish Quality Wild Venison is already available in Scotland), the scheme will ensure audit standards are met throughout the supply chain supporting the development of a wider more robust marketplace for British wild venison.
Applicants must demonstrate they comply with the new scheme, ensuring carcasses are handled correctly, premises are registered as food businesses with the local authority, and that standards expected for producing food are met in line with relevant regulations and best practice, ensuring that full traceability occurs. It is hoped the first quality-assured meat badged under this scheme will go on sale next year.
Richard Stanford, Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, said:
A healthy native wild deer population that is in balance with its ecosystem will allow woodland to flourish, and support biodiversity. However where there are high-density populations of wild deer these can negatively impact the establishment, growth and biodiversity of woodland. Deer therefore must be managed as part of sustainable forestry in England which will also support the development of the wild venison market as a healthy meat.
Boosting confidence in the British venison market encourages deer management and is a sustainable alternative to fencing and plastic tree guards in the landscape. As such, I strongly encourage producers to apply for this new scheme.
1.2 How to apply for the scheme?
To apply for the British Quality Wild Venison scheme visit: British Quality Wild Venison - Quality assurance for British Wild Venison.
1.3 Why is a wild venison scheme important?
In the England Trees Action Plan and the Environment Improvement Plan the Government committed to releasing a deer management strategy. We recently consulted on deer management and will be publishing a response in due course.
Read more in the press release: National quality assurance scheme for wild venison launches.
Apply for the wild venison scheme
2. Farming Equipment and Technology Fund 2023
2.1 Apply by midday on 15 June 2023.
Are you eligible to apply for a grant for specific items of equipment and technology for farming, horticultural or forestry businesses in England. The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) 2023 grant is competitive, and you will not automatically get a grant.
2.2 Animal Health and Welfare items
Submit your application using the Animal Health and Welfare portal by midday on 15 June 2023.
3. Join a webinar..
3.1 Squirrel Impact Assessment training
Join the UK Squirrel Accord webinar to mark Plant Health Week!
10 May 2023 at 10am
4. Join us for National Plant Health week
4.1 Join Emma our Biosecurity Officer on Thursday next week for the next twitter takeover.
We’re continuing our popular series of Twitter Takeovers and will be handing control of the Forestry Commission’s Twitter feed over to Biosecurity Officer Emma on Thursday 11 May. As part of National Plant Health Week, Emma will be giving us a glimpse into her day-to-day work within the Plant Health Forestry team and taking us along on a live visit to Forestry England’s Westonbirt Arboretum, where she’ll be preparing to take part in the Tree Care Forum and Arb Show.
Follow us @ForestryComm on Twitter to see what Emma gets up to.