A conference taking place at the Macdonald Cardrona Hotel, Peebles on Monday 14 November 2011 will highlight issues surrounding lowland deer management in Scotland in the context of the new Wildlife & Natural Environment (W&NE) Act. The event also marks the launch of the Lowland Deer Network, (LDN) a new initiative designed to assist lowland deer managers to develop a more coordinated approach to managing the deer on their land.
Focusing on roe deer and other species, and as the W&NE Act affects anyone who has deer on their land, the development of LDN is intended to pre-empt issues that are emerging from increasing low ground deer numbers due to expanding woodland habitat and a readily available food supply. Associated issues include roe deer in peri-urban and urban areas, road traffic accidents and damage to productive commercial woodland, crops and conservation areas.
The Cardrona event is aimed at farmers and land managers, deer stalkers (professional and recreational), forestry companies and foresters, Local Authorities and other individuals and organisations who have an interest in how Scotland’s low ground deer resource should be sustainably managed.
The keynote address will be given by Stewart Stevenson MSP, Minister for Environment and Climate Change. Other speakers include Andrew Thin, Chairman, Scottish Natural Heritage, Dr Bob McIntosh, Director, Forestry Commission Scotland, Derek Kneller and Robert Speirs of the North Lanarkshire Deer Management Group, and Jonathan Hall, Head of Rural Policy, NFUS.
Richard Cooke, Chairman, the Association of Deer Management Groups, who is chairing the conference, says:
“Scotland’s rural sector has to recognise that, in terms of the new W&NE Act, low ground deer bring at least as many challenges as their high ground counterparts. This event aims to reach those who farm, have forestry interests, who stalk, or who own or manage land, whether private and public, and advise them about how the Act affects them; also that a more co-ordinated approach may be more effective in managing deer on the low ground and on the urban fringe.”
The day-long conference is free to attend. Places will be given on a first-come basis, with applications/registration to dalhousieestates@btinternet.com
Tel: 01356 624566.
Issued by and further information from:
Dick Playfair
Playfair Walker
Tel: 0131 445 5570
E: dick@playfairwalker.com