Stopping Deer Nibbles

[happybonzo]

Check yourself for Ticks as well.

Bradfield Woods just use brash to cover up but then it depends how much money and and/or labour you have available. There are grants for deer fencing. Just make sure you haven't got Muntjacs as those little *******s will go under neath the normal deer fencing.

[coppiceer]

I haven't any experience with deer, but I have found that hazel grown from mini-pollard (coppard) systems wil be fine for rods/poles up to around 9' in length but not for hedgelaying binders. I actually find that the quality of the poles is better, particularly on outer or exposed plants.

The Oxfordshire Woodland project have experience of copparding (cutting hazel above browsing height), you shuld contact David Rees at:

http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/public-site/woodland-project

There is a Forestry Commission publication on temporary deer fencing:

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/fcpn9.pdf/$FILE/fcpn9.pdf

[Sparrowhatchforestry]

We did an experiment a few years back to assess the damage that happened to some of our hazel, we individually fenced half and left the others, result was the protected ones survived, the un protected ones didn’t.

Individual fencing can be cheap if you only have a few stools, or using temporary "pens" that you can move once the coppice has reached a suitable height. The other option is complete fencing or culling, however fencing is expensive and culling should only really be considered at a "landscape scale" in collaboration with your neighbours.

Sounds like you are taking quite an interest in managing you woodland and therefore it may be worth creating a management plan so you can have defined goals. This will also make it easier to access grant funding for a variety of operations.

[docsquid]

We use second-hand stock fencing that we have taken down from other areas in our wood. It doesn't look too pretty but does the job. The main problem we have had is rabbits which can get through stock fencing, and they nibble the hawthorn in particular. Therefore, this year we have put additional chicken wire around the stock fencing and this has so far deterred the bunnies. We only have muntjac deer, and they seem content to browse on easier pickings if the stools are fenced off. We place the fencing in a ring around a single stool or group of stools. After one or two years, it can be removed and used again in another coupe.

If you don't have a supply of used stock fencing it is worth asking around local farms or going to a farm auction. It starts out expensive, but because it can be re-used, it isn't too bad in subsequent years.

[Bulworthy Project]

Eating some venison has to be part of the equation.

[The Barrowers]

Hello

Sweet Chestnuts appears to get less attention than Hazel which with us and Fallow and Roe can't survive without protection for the first few years.

Initially used rabbit guards and plastic fencing. After the growth have now replaced it by reusing previous derelict deer fencing circling 3-5 saplings (about 4 feet and growing fast). When we had small hole plastic we noticed that caterpillars were rampant, I think this was due to no birds being able to feed. Hope this helps.

B and T

[The Barrowers]

Another thought, Heras Fencing poss. available from building sites cheap at the end of a contract. Builders may want it removed free or gumtree / ebay???
I hear a member of the Sussex Coppice Group uses this successfully and it should last years

[SimonFisher]

Heras Fencing

Ugly though!