Dear oh Deer!

In principle, we welcome all visitors to Forbes Field. But there are a few exceptions, and in particular when it comes to deer. Attractive as these animals are, they do significant damage to young trees. One of our wildlife cameras caught a young Roe Deer munching away at a young walnut tree as shown on the video clip. Unfortunately, the deer concerned or its friends have also attacked other trees in the field including a young apple tree and a willow as depicted in the images.

While we have erected new fencing and gates at Hops Close, we have yet to make the field completely ‘deer-safe’ as the animals slip in elsewhere, notably across the western boundary. It will be a major project to fence the field fully at a sufficient height to stop any entry by deer. Hence in the meantime – in an effort to prevent any further damage – we plan to place protective covers around any short vulnerable trees, including the trees we’ll be planting in the 2023-24 winter season.

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Oct 2023