Alasdair Boden: Deer, not sheep, cause ecological carnage

Sheep have a misplaced reputation for grazing the Lake District fells bare. But it turns out they’re not the biggest culprits. 

I recently heard it’s estimated there are now more deer than sheep in the Lake District fells.

Is this a problem? Ecologically, it’s one of the greatest. 

See also: Alasdair Boden – there’s no shame in being a part-time farmer

About the author

Alasdair Boden

Having been brought up in Kendal, Alasdair Boden returned to the Lake District in 2019 when he and his wife, Heather, bought a holiday cottage business. The 37-year-old describes himself as an “accidental farmer’ having later acquired the 40ha historically connected to the enterprise.

Read more articles by Alasdair Boden

A neighbour across the valley has recently planted thousands of new trees to control bracken on his side of the fells, in turn developing a more diverse ecosystem and creating a beautiful area for wildlife and more grass for grazing.

A laudable effort, but to do this he’s had to erect thousands of metres of deer fencing to stop the deer from eating all the saplings. 

It’s not just the higher fells where you see them. This year I’ve noticed more deer than ever in our valley bottom fields.

Where once it was a single rejected buck or doe, now it’s whole herds.

The issue is not that they’re eating the precious grass I’m growing for my own livestock, but they’re getting into our woodlands and hedgerows, much like on the higher fells.

With no predators and an outcry against hunting, they’re rapidly increasing in numbers and are causing mass ecological destruction. So, what can we do? 

Simple – shoot them. Except it’s not.

Deer stalking is a costly venture and the product is a meat that apparently few people want.

This Christmas, venison was the centrepiece of our dinner table. But it’s always just that, a centrepiece.

You never hear of people using venison mince for a casual Wednesday spag bol, or see it promoted at the supermarkets.

Beyond the cost, bureaucracy and regulations of stalking, there are rules related to selling the meat that can also be prohibitive.

The government is pumping millions into ecological projects, but these are being wrecked by out-of-control deer numbers.

Far from adding paperwork and practical barriers, the government should be funding deer stalkers to control the population growth and get this incredible meat onto our dining tables.

Venison spag bol, anyone?