Ministers launch scheme to urge people to eat venison instead of beef

Ministers launch scheme to encourage people to eat venison instead of beef and chicken to help control surging deer population that is putting woodland at risk

• Deer are damaging their woodland habitat by munching through young trees
• Now Ministers have launched a scheme to encourage people to eat venison 

A majestic stag is a defining image of the British countryside.

But surging numbers of deer are putting the future of their glorious woodland habitat at risk by munching through young trees.

Now Ministers have launched a scheme to encourage people to eat venison instead of beef and chicken to help control their numbers.

Unlike many other parts of Europe, Britain does not have a venison- eating culture. It’s seen here as a luxury food you would eat only in fine-dining restaurants. But supporters of the scheme claim it is one of the most sustainable and healthy meats. They also say culling deer for food would provide an ethical way of curbing the deer population, which is believed to be at its highest level for 1,000 years.

Some two million are now roaming the countryside following a two-year pause in culling during the pandemic.

Now Ministers have launched a scheme to encourage people to eat venison instead of beef and chicken to help control their numbers. [File image] 

Surging numbers of deer are putting the future of their glorious woodland habitat at risk by munching through young trees. [File image] 

Given the speed with which they breed, at least 750,000 animals would need to be culled this year to control numbers, yet only around half that are likely to be killed.

READ MORE: Oh deer! Vegan activists slam NHS decision to serve patients venison from animals culled by Forestry England – saying the health service should ‘dump animal flesh’ in favour of ‘vegetables, pulses, and tofu’

Yesterday, Ministers introduced a new quality trademark for venison as part of its deer management scheme. They are also considering handing ‘small grants’ to help start-up companies selling the meat.

Forestry Minister Trudy Harrison said: ‘We must develop ways to manage deer more sustainably if we are to meet our tree-planting targets and protect our precious woodlands and biodiversity.

‘This announcement is an important step towards achieving that aim and creating a thriving market for British wild venison.’

Richard Stanford, chief executive of the Forestry Commission, said: ‘Deer must be managed as part of sustainable forestry in England. Boosting confidence in the British venison market encourages deer management.’

Tory MP Charles Walker, chairman of the Country Food Trust, warned of the damage deer are currently inflicting on the countryside. He said ‘Saplings are a deer’s favourite food. They are like an army of lawnmowers laying waste to woodland and grass crops.’

Backing the scheme to promote venison, he added: ‘It is a fantastic meat. It’s one of the most healthy high-protein foods out there.’

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