Hart of the matter – who pays for deer management?

Words by Hugh Webster
Images by Peter Cairns, Mark Hamblin and Christina Sinclair

Land managers are being asked to reduce deer numbers to help the Scottish Government achieve its ambitious targets for forest regeneration and peatland restoration. But as the cost of deer management increases, a question arises: who will foot the bill?

They kill lambs, don’t they?

Words by Hugh Webster
Images by James Shooter, Peter Cairns, Terry Whittaker and Mark Hamblin

The truth is out there. But in a complex world, where facts are endlessly contested and simplified narratives abound, we all face a battle to see beyond our familiar echo chambers – to discern what’s true and what’s not. So why do we believe what we do? How much does anyone really know? And can we get closer to identifying the truth?

Part of our ‘The Big Picture In Focus’ series, providing a deep dive into the stories that impact Scotland’s road to nature recovery.

Could eating more venison support nature recovery?

Words by Hugh Webster
Illustration by Gemma Shooter
Images by Peter Cairns and Mark Hamblin

Scotland’s deer population is unsustainably high, especially in the lowlands and our expanding forests. Where there are too many deer for the local environment, they can block nature recovery – so numbers must be managed. But deer management is expensive, raising the question: could these costs be met, at least partly, by growing Scotland’s wild venison market?