Financial support
The Agri-Environment Climate Scheme has several options for deer managers to support improvements to the uplands.
The Agri-Environment Climate Scheme has several options for deer managers to support improvements to the uplands.
The Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) is the Scottish Government’s main programme of financial support for rural Scotland.
SRDP 2014–2020 schemes include the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS).
Contact your local NatureScot area office for advice before you apply.
The Moorland Management option aims to benefit a range of moorland habitats, by maintaining appropriate levels of wild and domestic stock. It is also intended to protect sensitive peatland areas at risk of soil erosion from herbivore trampling and vehicle tracking. This is an entry option for all upland management schemes. You must prepare and submit for approval a moorland management plan which will detail current deer numbers, their locations and current and proposed deer cull targets.
Where deer are affecting designated sites, the following additional support is available.
Open-range Deer Management aims to support the extra effort that is required to reduce deer numbers to an agreed level.
Upland Habitat Impact Assessment for Deer Management supports the planning and implementation of Habitat Impact Assessments.
This deer management assessment can be used to:
Deer Census – Helicopter Counts supports the counting of wild deer numbers by helicopter and the recording of their locations. This assessment can be carried out every 3 to 5 years to check the effectiveness of management practices.
This option must be combined with the Upland Habitat Impact Assessment for Deer Management.