An important part of maintaining a healthy herd is to manage its size. Deer are naturally very fertile and, without any predators, can grow to such a size that they cause harm to themselves and their environment.

We manage the numbers through culling, the most humane method to ensure a healthy herd size, especially without any natural apex predators – such as wolves – left in this country. Deer numbers would rapidly exceed the capacity of the park if numbers weren’t controlled, and we look to maintain a ratio of males and females, so that it doesn’t lead to unnatural levels of fighting.

The culling is a careful process, and we carefully assess which deer to take, deliberating how it will affect the health of the herd and whether the upcoming rutting season might in fact be too much for the individual stag. Any weakness, such as damaged antlers, can mean a painful death for a stag during rutting. We make sure it’s a stress free as possible which shows in the quality of our venison.

At our park we work with the seasons to ensure that our venison is at its peak. As the days grow shorter and colder, typically around mid-September, we enter a crucial phase in the venison production process. This is when the culls start to take place, and it’s not a coincidence. We believe that harvesting venison during this time allows us to provide you with a product that’s at its very best.

Mid-September marks the time when venison is in its prime condition. The deer have had the summer to graze on lush pastures, resulting in meat that is not only flavorful but also lean and tender. This careful timing ensures that you experience the true essence of venison when you enjoy our products.

Our venison is available to purchase at our shop.

We watch our Deer very carefully for illness and disease

Our herds are carefully managed to ensure health and happiness

We have no natural predators for deer in the UK, so we have to manage the herd numbers ourselves.