Managing Deer on the National Trust’s Ashridge Estate

This document has been prepared with the purpose of:

• Establishing the need for management of deer on the Ashridge Estate
• Defining the Trust’s approach to deer management on the Ashridge Estate

Deer at Ashridge

A brief history:

Ashridge began life as a monastery in the 13^th Century and at this time Fallow deer were introduced to a small medieval deer park to provide a ready source of fresh meat. Following the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII in 1539 Ashridge became a royal Estate and the Fallow deer were regularly hunted for sport. The Park was expanded over the centuries to it’s maximum size of nearly 1000 acres and the deer continued to be managed within the Park for sport and meat.  Deer remained in the Park (with the exception of a few escapees) until the sale and threatened break up of the Estate in the 1920s, following the death of Lord Brownlow. Following the sale of large parts of the Park the Fallow herd escaped to become the wild herd that roams Ashridge today.

 The Ashridge Estate currently extends to approximately 2000 Ha and has a large and diverse landscape and habitat range encompassing areas of unimproved open grassland, woodland and farmland  together with remnants of the historic parkland, surrounding the grounds at Ashridge Management College (not in NT ownership). Most of the woodland and grassland is designated as nationally important for nature conservation. Ashridge is also an important recreational area and the Estate receives approximately 600,000 visits each year.

 The Need for Management

 On National Trust properties deer are generally a welcome and acceptable component of our wildlife. The Trust recognises that a rapidly increasing wild deer population can have, in some local areas, a negative effect on the landscape and other wildlife, as well as disturbing rural activities like farming and woodland management. Where there is a perception that a ‘negative effect’ or damage is occurring this prompts deer management, which usually involves culling.

 During the 20^th Century the numbers of Fallow deer has steadily grown and the population of deer within the Ashridge area is currently very high and increasing and the subsequent impact on the natural environment is now considerable.

Significant urban expansion has also meant that the volume and speed of traffic through the Ashridge Estate has increased over the years resulting in a large number of deer/vehicle collisions.

 The management of the herd and control of Fallow deer numbers is one of the major challenges we now face at Ashridge.

 Objectives of Management

 In managing the deer on the Ashridge Estate the Trust sets the following objectives:

•  to protect desired natural plant communities. The perpetuation of many such communities depends on specific levels of grazing and browsing 
• to contain damage to commercial crops (farming and forestry) and to ornamental produce. Intolerable damage does occur and must be contained. The Trust is aware of its obligations towards tenants and neighbours 
• to reduce the incidence of road traffic accidents involving deer. It is not always possible to take effective action, but at particular black spots some measures are realistic.

 In achieving these objectives the Trust will aim:

• To conduct all operations in a safe and humane manner. Any culling is to be carried out with full regard at all times for the safety of visitors and staff; the welfare of livestock and other animals and the clean despatch of deer to be culled. 
• To co-operate with neighbours in the preparation of management programmes. Herd deer such as Fallow habitually move over large areas and effective management is only possible in this way.

 The Trust does not:

• maintain populations of deer to maximise their revenue potential in any way.
• sanction the capture and sale of live free-ranging wild deer.
• permit commercial stalking on its land.

Management Principles

 In managing the deer on the Ashridge Estate the Trust has the following principles:

 Management

The rationale for managing deer must be to contain their impact on nature conservation features, road users and farming interests to acceptable levels. It is the impact rather than an estimate of population size, which normally determines any necessary management.

An assessment of the impact of wild deer on their environment may indicate the need for management.

Management options fall broadly into three categories:

• habitat management
• protection of vulnerable areas, plants or roads by use of fencing or guards
• culling.

A combination of these will provide the most effective strategy.  The strategy for the management of deer at Ashridge is fully integrated with all related aspects of the management of the Estate and forms part of the Property Management Plan.

 Culling

In cases where culling is necessary the assessment of the cull target will involve consideration

• the extent of damage directly attributable to deer;
• a current estimate of changes within the deer population in terms of numbers and gender.

 Liaison

The mobility of a Fallow deer herd means that in most cases their management will encompass a wide geographical area. In order for such management to be effective, a degree of co-operation is required from all landowners in the area usually through a local Deer Management Group. The National Trust are members of the Ashridge Deer Management Group. The group organizes the annual deer census and meets to coordinate the deer cull.

Deer and the Law

Apart from the normal responsibilities that the Trust has as an employer and as an owner of land to which the public has access, there are a number of legal requirements relating specifically to the management of deer. A useful source of information on all aspects of deer management, including the legal situation can be found on the Deer Initiative website.  http://www.thedeerinitiative.co.uk/

 Dispatching a Wounded Animal

Stalkers are often called upon to deal with injured animals. The humane dispatch of deer and other animals injured in road accidents is fraught with difficulty. If a police officer is present at the scene of an accident it is important to work under his or her direction.

 Deer and the Public

There is public concern about the killing of deer. It is vital that the Trust is open in presenting its case for essential management.

Every opportunity should be taken, with due sensitivity, to demonstrate the importance of deer management (of which culling is one aspect). Deer management enables the effective conservation of the features and natural processes that are valued in the countryside, helps to protect agricultural crops and contributes to a reduction in road traffic accidents caused by deer.                   

The Trust’s guidelines on managing deer are available on its website. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-deer01.pdf

 For further information on the management of deer at Ashridge please contact the Property Manager on 01442 841800.