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? 

Carnivore Country?

Images by Mark Hamblin
Words & Images by Hugh Webster

Slovenia now boasts some of the highest densities of brown bears in the world, while wolf numbers are recovering and lynx have been successfully reintroduced. But this success has been hard won, reflecting a deliberate and sustained focus on maintaining a healthy balance between nature conservation and the needs of human communities.

Aiming High

Images by Mark Hamblin and Peter Cairns
Words & Images by Hugh Webster

By carefully reducing deer numbers, deer stalkers are tackling Scotland’s overgrazing problem, allowing montane woodlands to recover and vital peatlands to heal. Shooting deer is part of the job, but this small group of unsung conservation heroes aren’t just hunters – they’re naturalists and historians with unrivalled local knowledge. For ecologist and Corrour Estate’s Conservation Manager, Sarah Watts, tackling the biodiversity crisis without their help is simply unimaginable.

Wildfires spark muirburn debate

Words by Hugh Webster
Images by Mark Hamblin, James Shooter and Hugh Webster

Recent wildfires have reignited debate about muirburn and wildfire risk in Scotland’s warming climate. But the contested merits of muirburn mask deeper divides over whether and how we want our landscapes to change, and what functions we need Scotland’s natural environment to serve. 

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

Less is Moormore

Words by Hugh Webster
Images by Mark Hamblin, James Shooter and Mat Larkin

Letting nature lead can be difficult. In our nature-depleted landscapes, it is often hard for conservationists to relinquish control, to allow wild nature to develop in whichever way it chooses. But for Duncan Lawson, letting nature lead is fundamental to rewilding.

Deer To Me

Words by Hugh Webster
Images by Mark Hamblin, Peter Cairns and Mat Larkin

As a deer stalker, Jack Ward’s job is to monitor deer populations and control their impacts. Deer management can be controversial but Jack loves his job, finding motivation for the early starts and daily discomfort in his understanding of the bigger picture. He sees deer management as necessary – for the recovery of the landscape and the health of the deer themselves.

Aspen: ticking the balance sheet box

Words by Hugh Webster
Images by Mark Hamblin and Peter Cairns

Aspen’s quaking, whispering leaves might capture our imagination and lift our spirits, but its commercial potential is part of a growing conversation around how we make the most of Scotland’s forests.

What’s a sheep worth?

Words by Hugh Webster
Images by Mark Hamblin and Peter Cairns

Sheep have come to dominate the Scottish landscape, but at what cost? We could produce all the lamb we need while also supporting farmers to restore our lost biodiversity, but if farmers insist they cannot coexist with native species, it’s surely time to ask: what are sheep really worth, and do we need so many?

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

Land Healers

Words by Hugh Webster
Images by Tierney Lloyd and Mark Hamblin

Feeling penned in by the frantic nature of life in the city, Andrew and Jess Spence moved north to Sutherland, where they’ve embarked on an ambitious rewilding journey that involves the whole family.