What the action involves
This action’s aim is to reduce the harm deer are causing to priority species and habitats.
The purpose is to support priority species and habitats by allowing them to thrive.
What you must do
Your Natural England adviser or Forestry Commission woodland manager will assess your land. They’ll work with you to adapt and agree the activities you must do to achieve this action’s aim. All mandatory activities will be set out in your agreement document.
To get paid for this action, you must:
- put up an agreed number of deer monitoring structures (‘exclosures’) in year 1 of your agreement
- carry out the agreed level of culling set out in your species management plan
- carry out habitat impact assessments in years 1, 5 and 10 of your agreement
When to do it
You must do this action each year of its duration.
Evidence to keep
You must keep evidence to show what you have done to complete this action. If it’s not clear that you have done this action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve its aim, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) may ask for this evidence.
You must supply the evidence if they ask for it, including:
- habitat impact assessment reports
- evidence of culling activity and cull numbers supported by photographs, when requested
- any bank statements, receipted invoices, consents, or permissions connected with the work
Where you can do it
You can only do this action on eligible land where:
- native or naturalised deer (European roe deer, red deer and fallow deer) are causing harm to priority habitats and species
- invasive non-native deer species (Chinese water deer, Reeves muntjac or sika) are present
You should do this action on the same land as a habitat creation or management action. You must get approval from your Natural England adviser or Forestry Commission woodland officer to do this action if you’re not doing another habitat creation or management action on site.
Eligible land
You can do this action on land that’s:
- an eligible land type
- registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
- declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover
Available area
Total or part of the available area in the land parcel.
Rotational or static
This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.
Consents and permissions
To apply for this action, you’ll need:
- a species management plan agreed with the Forestry Commission and Natural England (if your application includes non-woodland habitats)
- Scheduled Monument Consent from Historic England for any work on scheduled monuments
- consent from Natural England for any activity on land designated as a site of special scientific interest (SSSI)
- licence A16: to shoot deer during the closed season or at night if you intend to do this as part of your management plan
You may need to:
- get advice from your Forestry Commission woodland officer or Natural England adviser if you have other archaeological or historic features on your agreement land
- get any other wildlife licence from Natural England if your activities affect a protected species or their habitat
All archaeological and historic features (including scheduled monuments) are identified in your Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (HEFER).
If you’re a tenant, it’s your responsibility to check whether your tenancy agreement allows you to complete what’s required in the actions you choose. You may need your landlord’s consent.
Capital grants that support it
If you need to complete an implementation plan, species management plan or a feasibility study before you apply, you can apply for funding through capital grants plans funding.
You can also apply for capital items to help you achieve the action’s aims. Your Natural England adviser will discuss eligible capital items with you.
