Deer management strategy

We are consulting on proposals to help control and manage the impacts of deer in England to better protect the natural environment and woodlands whilst improving animal welfare standards.

Excessive deer grazing affects the sustainability of existing woodlands and new tree planting, harms our native biodiversity, and damages agricultural crops and trees managed for timber.

The proposals set out within the consultation will help us make further progress to meet our biodiversity and tree planting targets. We are committed to meeting the Environment Act target to increase woodland cover to at least 16.5% of total land area in England by 2050.

Please visit the consultation page.