The Deer Initiative

The Deer Initiative in Wales

Deer Initiative in Wales /Menter Ceirw Cymru

Croeso i Wefan Menter Ceirw Cymru. Mae'r wybodaeth ar y dudalen hon ar y wê yn Saesneg - os hoffech gael unrhyw wybodaeth yn Gymraeg cysylltwch â Swyddfa Menter Ceirw Cymru. Diolch am ymweld â'r wefan hon.

Welcome to the Deer Initiative in Wales

The Deer Initiative in Wales was established in 1999 with the aim of ensuring the delivery of a healthy, sustainable wild deer population in Wales. With so little known about wild deer in Wales, the Deer Initiative has carried out extensive research into assessing the distribution of Fallow, Roe, Muntjac, Red and Sika in Wales, as well as their impact on forestry, agriculture and biodiversity.

The Deer Initiative has continued to work to develop Deer Management Groups in Wales and complete impact research. We have also been working recently with FC Wales to provide training to land agent planners on deer management planning for the new 'Better Woodlands for Wales' grant scheme.

Results of research work, and information regarding other Deer Initiative activities in Wales are in our regular newsletter which is available by post. Please contact Jackie Symmons if you would like to receive a copy.

The Deer Initiative provides advice and information on all issues relating to wild deer in Wales and their management, particularly in the use of Deer Management Plans and encouraging collaborative deer managment through Deer Management Groups.

Please contact Jackie Symmons, Wales Deer Officer, if you would like more information.

Wales Regional News Update

DI Wales Newsletter published hard copy in April 08 and now available providing more regional information. Please contact me if you would like to receive a copy by post.

Strategic review – a Wales stakeholder meeting was held in Rosset in February 2008 with the key action point being the engagement of Welsh Ministers and the need for the production of an Action Plan for wild deer in Wales.

Disease - Btb sampling finished with Forestry Commission Wales and completed report for this year. We are currently in discussions with Welsh Assembly Government to continue sampling in private sector in 2008-2009.

Distribution data - DI Wales has signed a Wales wide deer distribution data sharing agreement with Local Biological Record Centres in Wales. The Centre will enable the collection, storage and sharing of biodiversity data to advise future activities.

Forestwatch scheme in South Wales has gone well over winter and a hotspot for Deer Vehicle Collisions has been identified which is being monitored to see if further work is required.

Better Woodlands for Wales - Deer Management Plans continue. On average the DI in Wales is contributing to 5% of schemes.

Deer Managment for FCW Better Woodlands for Wales scheme

The Deer Initiative is the specialist deer advisor to the FCW Better Woodlands for Wales scheme. If you are a woodland owner or manager and would like to know more about the scheme, please click here to access the FCW BWW guidance document or contact Jackie Symmons at the Deer Initiative in Wales.

Urban Deer

There have been increasing reports of wild deer found in suburban and urban areas around Wales. The latest was a Roe Deer in school grounds in Tredegar. If you would like more information on urban deer there is a Technical Advice Note available for download from the Rural Development Service.

Events in Wales update

7-8 June 2008 - BASC Wales and Borders Country Fair, Usk

14-15 June 2008 - Welsh Game Fair, Llandeillo

28-29 June 2008 - BASC Country Fair, Bodelwyddan

21-24 July 2008 - Royal Welsh Show, Builth Wells

25-27 July 2008 - CLA Game Fair, Blenheim Palace

Deer Vehicle Collisions

Jochen Langbein has published his report on Deer collisions nationwide (see www.deercollisions.co.uk ) and is continuing to collate data.

As an indication of awareness of deer collisions see the article Post Office® Counts The Cost Of Wild Animal Accidents issued by the Post Office on their website.

Legislation

The Deer (Regulatory Reform) (England and Wales) Order 2007 has been with us since October 2007. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the extension to the female deer season has been widely utilised and has been particularly useful in the case of fallow deer.

With regard to shooting muntjac and chinese water deer with .22 centrefire rifles ACPO have made it clear that they will make variations on certificates only when the certificate is due for renewal, there is no requirement to make a variation to shoot deer with these smaller calibres until then.

“Following a period of discussion through ACPO FELWG Regional representatives, I have determined that the Working Groups’ policy recommendation to relevant Chief Officers and their FLMs is that for a period of no more than 5 years, we accept that it will not be in the public interest to seek to prosecute a person in circumstances where they have existing lawful possession of a firearm that would meet the above requirements, but currently have a condition on their firearms certificate to take only foxes/vermin.”

ACPO have made a similar provision to take into account recent changes to range design and administration rules, thus:

“In accordance with ACPO FELWG (Association of Chief Police Officers Firearms and Explosives Licensing Working Group) instructions, it will not be in the public interest to prosecute an individual if he uses his firearm on a ‘newly approved and public liability insured range’ if he only has the ‘old’ MoD approved range condition. Certificates will be amended as and when they come up for renewal, variation, amendment, change of address etc.
Please note, if you still have an ‘old’ MoD approved condition and only shoot on MoD approved ranges, there is no need to amend your certificate.”

Most of you will by now be familiar with the provisions of the European Protected Species (EPS)legislation, click here for comprehensive information. This legislation could affect even simple woodland operations such as clearing high seat sightlines so it as well to be aware of its provisions.

Check the News section on the Forestry Commission website for the latest information from the Forestry Commission about EPS, the EWGS, SEEDA funding and other useful information.

Best Practice

Following the tragic death of Ian Forshaw, who was chairman of the England and Wales deer Best Practice groups from its inception, Judith Webb has taken on the role. Judith will be known to many of you, amongst other things her appointments are:

• GB Forestry Commissioner - with particular responsibility as one of the two Wales Commissioners including chairing the FC Wales Audit Committee
• Director of the National Forest Company
• Secretary of State Appointee to the Cotswolds AONB Conservation Board
• Chair of the West Midlands Woodland & Forestry Forum

Judith's previous experience includes Chairing Defra's Rural Development Service, being a Member of the FC England National Committee, the FC West Midlands Regional Avisory Committee, the Forestry Commission Advisory Committee for Wales and Chairing the England Rural Development Plan Woodlands & Forestry Advisory Group, she has also sat on committees of various national and local partnerships and environmental NGOs.  She is a qualified teacher and Local Government Training Board trainer.

The first suite of guides can be seen here on this website, and many more will appear over the next few months. We are collaborating with the deer best practice group in Scotland who have just completed their web based publication of guides so if you would like a taste of what is likely to be available for England and Wales take a look at the DCS website.

he Deer Initiative has also been asked by DEFRA to help coordinate the development of a small suite of guides on wild boar with a proposed publication date of Septemebr 2008.

Education and training

DMQ now has a revised website which covers all areas of the work of DMQ including a revised version of the guidance for witnesses. One major change to the assessment procedure is that there is now a completely new target for the DSC 1 shooting test, this will be the only target acceptable for assessment from 1 st May 2008

Useful links

Countryside Council for Wales

Forestry Commission (Wales)

Better Woodlands for Wales

Local Records Centres Wales

Contact Details

Please contact us if you would like more information on any of the activities of the Deer Initiative in Wales, to be placed on the mailing list, or just to ask for information.