Deer management strategy
- From:
- Forestry Commission and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
- Published
- 4 August 2022
- Last updated
- 20 February 2026 — See all updates
Applies to England
Read the full outcome
Detail of outcome
We received 2,101 responses to this consultation. Defra thanks all of those who considered these proposals and provided comments.
Defra consulted on key strategy proposals from 4 August to 2 September 2022.
This document provides a summary of responses to the public consultation on proposals to manage the impacts of deer on trees, woodlands and forests in England, and outlines how these have shaped the final policy.
We have now published the deer impacts policy statement that sets out the actions we will take in England over the next decade to manage the impacts of wild deer on our treescape.
Original consultation
Summary
We're seeking views in this consultation on key proposals for a new deer management strategy.
This consultation closesran atfrom
to
Consultation description
We are consulting on proposals to help control and manage the UK’simpacts increasingof deer populationin England to better protect the natural environment and woodlands whilst improving animal welfare standards.
Populations of wild deer, in part due to a rapid increase in non-native deer species, may now be higher than at any time in the last 1,000 years. 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. An unsustainable deer population can also impact the health and welfare of the deer themselves.
The actionsproposals set out within the the consultation will will help us make further progress to meet our biodiversity and tree planting targets. TheWe Governmentare is committed to treblingmeeting treethe plantingEnvironment ratesAct intarget Englandto byincrease thewoodland endcover ofto thisat Parliamentleast as16.5% part of ourtotal plansland toarea meetin netEngland zero by 2050.
Please visit the consultation page.
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Updates to this page
Published 4 August 2022
Last updated 20 February 2026
href="#full-history">+ show all updates
-
Added the summary of responses and government response. Also deleted and updated text in the consultation description to make factual corrections, and updated to reflect policy changes under new government.
-
First published.
Consultation description
We are consulting on proposals to help control and manage the UK’simpacts increasingof deer populationin England to better protect the natural environment and woodlands whilst improving animal welfare standards.
Populations of wild deer, in part due to a rapid increase in non-native deer species, may now be higher than at any time in the last 1,000 years. 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. An unsustainable deer population can also impact the health and welfare of the deer themselves.
The actionsproposals set out within the the consultation will will help us make further progress to meet our biodiversity and tree planting targets. TheWe Governmentare is committed to treblingmeeting treethe plantingEnvironment ratesAct intarget Englandto byincrease thewoodland endcover ofto thisat Parliamentleast as16.5% part of ourtotal plansland toarea meetin netEngland zero by 2050.
Please visit the consultation page.
Share this page
The following links open in a new tab
Updates to this page
-
Added the summary of responses and government response. Also deleted and updated text in the consultation description to make factual corrections, and updated to reflect policy changes under new government.
-
First published.