Trust's stag cull plan causes fury
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Around 45 beasts have traditionally been culled annually on the 9140 acres Quinag (Cuineag) Estate, bought by the trust in 2005.
But the trust’s head of land and science, Mike Daniels, has now advised Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) – the body responsible for the sustainable management of deer in Scotland – that up to 100 stags should be taken.
The move is a bid to protect the ancient Ardvar Woodland, part of which lies on Quinag, from being damaged by foraging deer.
The woodland, which contains birch trees, has been designated a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
Assynt Community Council has become involved in the dispute and is calling for the John Muir Trust to suspend its cull immediately. The body has also demanded that a representative from the trust addresses a public meeting as soon as possible.
However, a spokesman for JMT insisted that no changes had been made to their deer policy at Quinag and they had been the victims of “untruths”, “misinformation” and “scaremongering.”
Andy Hibbert runs a sporting enterprise on the 2000-acre Loch Assynt Lodge which borders Quinag. Other landowners which share boundaries in the area are Ardvar Estate and Assynt Crofters Trust.
Mr Hibbert said: “This level of culling will just devastate the deer population here. The pressure this kind of cull will put on all of us is going to end it as a business for people.
“I really don’t get the reasoning behind birch trees being of such great importance. Tourists aren’t going to pull over to see trees.”
Mr Hibbert’s suggestion that the woodland should be protected by deer fencing had been opposed by JMT.
He said alarm bells started ringing at the start of the stag culling season two months ago when it became clear that the trust had changed the goalposts.
“Normally the deer stalker on Ardvar Estate, Michael Ross, undertakes the cull on behalf of the trust. That’s been the case since the trust bought Quinag,” said Mr Hibbert.
“But this year they have dispensed with his services without informing him and brought in a contract stalker instead.”
It is also alleged that young beasts are being culled rather than older animals.
As a member of the West Sutherland Deer Group, Mr Hibbert approached the trust on several occasions asking for their cull number.
He then received a copy of an e-mail sent by the trust’s Mike Daniels to SNH’s North area officer, Sinclair Coghill, in which Mr Daniels stated that the cull of 45 was too low and urged SNH to “consider setting a higher target.”
He stated: “We suggest that an upper limit in the order of 100 stags is more likely to start to achieve the objectives – population reduction, habitat improvement and continued socio-economic benefits to Ardvar.”
A concerned Mr Hibbert then approached Assynt Community Council which agreed to take up the issue.
Chairman Roddie Kerr said it had been discussed at the council’s 27th September meeting when it had been agreed to write to the trust asking them to suspend the cull and attend a public meeting.
“It is a big concern for the community and the feeling is that the John Muir Trust are going ahead regardless.
“While an increased cull might not have an immediate impact, it will affect tourism in the long term.”
A spokesman for the John Muir Trust said: “There hasn’t been any change in the trust’s deer management policy, either in Assynt or anywhere else in Scotland.
“Our deer policy is very much in line with the strategies of SNH and all conservation charities and landowners concerned with conservation and regeneration.
“The only change we have made in Assynt is that we have employed a different stalker to carry out the cull. We think that created a bit of resentment with neighbouring estates and led to what we regard as a campaign of misinformation and scaremongering.
“There has been no change in the number of deer culled.”
Highland councillor for North West and Central Sutherland, Linda Munro, said: “The request for a meeting with JMT sounds very reasonable by the Assynt Community Council and I look to the JMT to halt the cull until such times as they have met them and concerned residents.”
