Red, roe and fallow deer are to be found in the UK. Red Deer are generally found in Scotland, though small herds or populations are found in other places. Roe deer are quite common; the Forestry Commission estimates that there are some 500,000 in Britain – though at one stage, there were only populations in Scotland. The third type of deer to be found is the fallow deer; it can be found in most counties across England and Wales; there are also populations in Scotland.

Fallow deer were probably introduced (from Europe) in Norman times and they established themselves in woodlands and forests. The hunting of deer was a popular sport for centuries. Fallow deer tend to live in isolated (single sex) groups. The sexes come together at the time of the rut (September to October). The young are usually born in May or June and are weaned by October. The young (including young males) stay with the doe herds for some time but the young males move to join the buck herds when they are about 18 months old. The herds tend to forage over a wide area, staying only for a short time in any one place.

Fallow deer are herbivores and grazers. They feed upon most forms of ground vegetation especially during spring and summer, but will also takes leaves and young shoots from the shrub layer, and nibble young trees (more so in autumn and winter). They will also take the bark from trees. Their feeding can result in the death of young trees, prevention of the natural regeneration of woodland or cause distorted growth in grazed plants. The removal of bark not only affects growth, but the plant may become infected with bacteria and/or fungi.

If an area has been replanted, then the young trees can be protected with tree guards (depending on the young trees - these should be up to 1.5 / 1.8 M in height). Fallow deer may also enter arable fields and feed upon roots crops, such as parsnips and sugar beet. The damage caused by deer to agriculture and forestry is estimated to run into several million pounds per year.

Further information on Deer:

http://www.britishdeersociety.co.uk/downloads/fallow.pdf

Mortimer Forest, Shropshire

Deer Damage:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/vertebrates/reports/agricultural-damage.pdf