Trust deer cull request thrown out
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WILD land conservation charity the John Muir Trust (JMT) has failed in its bid for a permit to cull deer out-of-season on its west Sutherland estate in order to protect ancient woodland.
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) confirmed that it had turned down JMT’s application for authorisation to shoot deer on the 9140-acre Quinag Estate after the end of the hind season on 15th February.
A spokesman for the charity said they were "disappointed and surprised" by the decision but would continue to fight for an increased cull.
JMT had claimed it needed to increase its cull in order to protect the ancient Ardvar woodland from damage by foraging deer.
But the move was opposed by neighbouring landowners who were concerned a continuing cull would reduce deer numbers to a level that would impact on other sporting estates and the area’s fragile economy.
SNH’s North Highlands and Islands operations manager, Fraser Symonds, explained the reasons behind the rejection.
He said that JMT had already met its stag cull target, understood to be 45 beasts, and was close to its hind cull target — thought to be around the 80 mark.
He acknowledged that Ardvar woodland, protected under UK and European legislation, was in a poor condition due to browsing pressure from red deer and also that current deer cull numbers had not succeeded in improving the condition of the trees.
However, he said: "Discussions with interested parties are underway on management measures to rectify this."
He added: "We recognise that a new plan of action is needed to address different and legitimate land management objectives.
"We believe the current agreement between the landowners involved provides the best route to achieve this and we will continue to work with the parties involved to find a solution."
Mr Symonds said it was hoped that an aerial count of deer scheduled for early March would help guide future discussions.
JMT’s deer officer Lester Standen said: "We’re disappointed and surprised that SNH has refused the out of season authorisation for Quinag, given that they have already agreed that we satisfy all the criteria."
He pointed out that Ardvar woodlands had been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest since 1972, and a European Special Area of Conservation in 2005.
According to Mr Standen, the deer population in Ardvar had tripled in the last 40 years.
He said that SNH had agreed that the woodland was in a "declining and unfavourable condition" and in danger of disappearing completely.
Mr Standen added: "This decision will be welcomed by those who maintain high deer populations purely for sport, despite the detrimental impact on the environment.
"These people believe that woodlands and other wildlife are not important, and that deer should be fenced out of the food and shelter that they need rather than be maintained at sustainable numbers.
"Sustainable deer management can bring many benefits in the form of local stalking income, venison in the food chain, native woodlands thriving naturally in Scotland for future generations without unsightly and ecologically damaging fences that cost taxpayers millions, and healthy deer able to access their natural woodland habitats when they need to.
"We will continue to try and persuade SNH and neighbouring landowners in Assynt that this precious part of our country’s rich natural heritage is worth protecting."
n Neighbouring landowners who opposed JMT’s application were unavailable for comment this week.
