For those who may have skipped over the detail in my recent Deer Coordinator opportunity here I'm adding this second post because there's a lot more to this role that could impact upon Sussex stalkers more than perhaps they realise. Specifically:
"The Sussex Woods pilot has been set up to address a growing fallow deer population which is having significant impacts on Protected Sites as well as other stakeholders (farmers, foresters, public). Traditional deer management approaches have proved ineffective due to the fallow’s high mobility and the nature of this landscape – a mix of woodland and arable land-use with multiple land ownership and numerous ‘safe havens’. The pilot seeks to engage landowners and other stakeholders to work together to facilitate and incentivise collaborative and sustainable deer management at a landscape scale, leading to an improvement in woodland condition of Protected Sites."
The key responsibilities of the coordinator are to:
1. Set up and coordinate Deer Management groups (DMGs) – this will require regular communication and engagement with landowners and stalkers within the pilot area as well as other conservation partners. Specific duties include:
o Provide regular updates to DMG members
o Provide regular updates to Sussex Woods project team and attend internal team meetings (fortnightly). Occasional attendance at external meetings / workshops may be required.
o Organise workshops and training (DSC1 / 2 & First Aid)
o Develop a mentoring programme for new & existing stalkers
o Set up a programme of collaborative cull days within pilot area
o Input into quarterly newsletter
2. Support landowners with submission of Night License application – the Sussex Woods pilot is trialling a new ‘contiguous’ Night License approach involving multiple landowners within the pilot area. The co-ordinator will be required to work closely with the Pilot’s Deer Management Advisor to provide all necessary information for this application.
3. To input into other pilot workstreams such as development of local venison supply chain & assisting the external evaluators to review the effectiveness of landowner engagement within DMGs.
The pilot area is South of Midhurst and North of Chichester:
This builds upon comments made at the recent excellent FC conference in relation to incentivising future grants and coordinated action in the landscape. IMHO, such an approach is essential if the ever-increasing herds of fallow are to be properly managed but others will no doubt disagree. I for one welcome this initiative, but its not my backyard.
Discuss......................
"The Sussex Woods pilot has been set up to address a growing fallow deer population which is having significant impacts on Protected Sites as well as other stakeholders (farmers, foresters, public). Traditional deer management approaches have proved ineffective due to the fallow’s high mobility and the nature of this landscape – a mix of woodland and arable land-use with multiple land ownership and numerous ‘safe havens’. The pilot seeks to engage landowners and other stakeholders to work together to facilitate and incentivise collaborative and sustainable deer management at a landscape scale, leading to an improvement in woodland condition of Protected Sites."
The key responsibilities of the coordinator are to:
1. Set up and coordinate Deer Management groups (DMGs) – this will require regular communication and engagement with landowners and stalkers within the pilot area as well as other conservation partners. Specific duties include:
o Provide regular updates to DMG members
o Provide regular updates to Sussex Woods project team and attend internal team meetings (fortnightly). Occasional attendance at external meetings / workshops may be required.
o Organise workshops and training (DSC1 / 2 & First Aid)
o Develop a mentoring programme for new & existing stalkers
o Set up a programme of collaborative cull days within pilot area
o Input into quarterly newsletter
2. Support landowners with submission of Night License application – the Sussex Woods pilot is trialling a new ‘contiguous’ Night License approach involving multiple landowners within the pilot area. The co-ordinator will be required to work closely with the Pilot’s Deer Management Advisor to provide all necessary information for this application.
3. To input into other pilot workstreams such as development of local venison supply chain & assisting the external evaluators to review the effectiveness of landowner engagement within DMGs.
The pilot area is South of Midhurst and North of Chichester:
This builds upon comments made at the recent excellent FC conference in relation to incentivising future grants and coordinated action in the landscape. IMHO, such an approach is essential if the ever-increasing herds of fallow are to be properly managed but others will no doubt disagree. I for one welcome this initiative, but its not my backyard.
Discuss......................
Last edited:
