A small group of fallow deer standing in tall meadow grass, looking directly at the camera

Blog

Notes on deer management

Name: Donaldson Deer Service
Telephone: +447397942663
Price range: Free

Practical, plain-language articles for landowners and farmers thinking through deer impact, fox control, and land management.

Photo: Ray Bird / Geograph.org.uk, CC BY-SA 2.0

Three side-by-side photos showing tree guards on young saplings, a wire deer fence along new woodland planting, and a suppressed rifle overlooking a field margin

17 September 2026

Fencing, Guards, or Culling: Which Actually Solves Your Deer Problem

Three ways to deal with deer damage, and none of them are universally right. Here's how to work out which one actually fits your land.

Read article

Rows of young trees planted in tall plastic tube guards on wooden stakes, tied in place, some with autumn leaves showing above the guard tops

9 September 2026

Tree Guards: What Height Actually Stops Deer (and Why So Many Fail Anyway)

Most tree guards on the market aren't tall enough for the deer actually on the land they're protecting. Here's the height that matters, and why guards fail even when it's right.

Read article

A green wire deer fence on wooden posts running along the edge of a field, protecting rows of newly planted tree saplings in guards behind it

10 August 2026

Deer Fencing: What It Actually Solves (and Where It Falls Short)

Fencing works brilliantly in some situations and is close to a waste of money in others. Here's how to tell which is which before you spend anything.

Read article

Sheep grazing in a parkland setting among young trees protected by individual tree guards

15 July 2026

Silvopasture and Agroforestry Grants: What They Actually Pay For

There's no standalone "silvopasture grant." It's a density-based payment inside the wider agroforestry offer, and it doesn't cover what most people assume it does.

Read article

A crop field with the Yorkshire Wolds and an area of distant woodland beyond, representative of land being considered for woodland creation

10 June 2026

WCPG Explained: What the Woodland Creation Planning Grant Actually Funds

WCPG doesn't pay for a single tree or a metre of fencing. It pays for the planning that comes before any of that, and it can fund a deer impact assessment along the way.

Read article

A wire deer fence running around the edge of a young forest plantation, protecting newly planted trees from browsing

6 May 2026

EWCO Deer Fencing: What the Grant Actually Pays For

The England Woodland Creation Offer will cover deer fencing on new planting, but the rate, the spec, and the evidence behind your application aren't always clear. Here's what's actually on the table.

Read article

A suppressed rifle resting on a field gate, overlooking farmland bordered by woodland under an overcast Yorkshire sky

2 April 2026

The Truth About Deer Culling: Humane, Legal, and Necessary

Culling is often misunderstood. Here's what responsible, welfare-led deer management actually looks like in practice.

Read article

Trimmed organic venison cutlets arranged on a dark slate board with fresh herbs and sea salt

5 March 2026

Why Free Deer Management Makes Sense for Farmers and Landowners

No cost to you, no waste of the animal: how venison-sharing fits into the model and why it benefits everyone involved.

Read article

A young sapling with bark stripped and frayed by deer, exposing the pale wood beneath, amid ferns and undergrowth

10 February 2026

Five Signs Your Land Has a Deer Problem

Browsing damage isn't always obvious at first glance. Here's what to look for before it costs you a season's growth.

Read article