Strategic Deer Management Board minutes: June 2025

Attendees and apologies

• Robyn Chapman - SG ND (Secretariat)
• Donald Fraser - NatureScot
• Simon Jones - LLTNPA
• John Kerr - SG ARE
• Cameron Maxwell - Scottish Forestry 
• Grant Moir - CNPA (Chair)
• Paul Roberts - NatureScot
• Brodie Wilson - SG ND

Guests

• Caroline Burgess - SG Food and Drink 
• Anton Watson - FLS 

Apologies 

• Donald Henderson – SG ND
• Robbie Kernahan – NatureScot

Items and actions

Welcome and review                              

Grant Moir welcomed everyone to the meeting. The group agreed the minutes from the meeting of 28 April 2025 and acknowledge the completed and outstanding action points from previous meetings.

The group reflected on their morning site visit around Malcolm McNaughton’s Inverlochlarig Estate in Blaquhidder. The Board appreciated visiting an Estate with a lot of different land uses, including sheep farming, nature restoration and stalking. The Board acknowledged the large sum of sporting rates that Inverlochlarig Estate had been paying and took the action to obtain more information on Sporting Rates Data.

AP (SG) - Sporting rates - SG to look at the data and determine the different rates landowners pay and how many can obtain rates relief.

AP (SG) – Robyn Chapman to publish the minutes of meeting of 28 April 2025 on the Scottish Government website now that they are agreed.

Agenda Item 3 – PfG Commitment

The Board discussed the most recent PfG Commitment:

Considering with stakeholders the development of local pilot projects on deer management programmes, including an implementation plan and funding models.

The group discussed the background to the commitment and potential routes to achieving the commitment.

AP – Meeting to be arranged with Donald Henderson, NatureScot and CNPA and eNGOs/ADMG to obtain more information on the ask.

Agenda Item 4 – Legislative Update

Brodie Wilson provided an update on the progress of the Deer Management Provisions within the Natural Environment Bill, advising that parliament was now in recess.

The Rural Affairs and Islands Committee (RAIC) Report is due at the end of recess and the group also discussed potential amendments expected at stage 2 of the Bill process.

Agenda Item 5 - Deer Cull Return Data

NatureScot provided the Board with the latest cull return data, it was decided that all Board members should be more fully aware of this information and that it can be circulated via email and doesn’t necessarily have to be an agenda item.

NatureScot advised they are working on a data strategy with colleagues in SG ARE.

NatureScot also provided an update on the NatureScot Deer App. The App has been trialled by NatureScot staff at Beinn Eighe and Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserves. The App was also used by partcipants in the Pilot Incentive Schemes (south Loch Ness and central belt). NatureScot will also be trailling the App on RSPB reserves.

It was note that development of the app itself is complete however an issue lies within the hosting of data and NatureScot are looking to establish a longer term contract with an app developer who can host the data for a 3-5 year period. Once obtained the app will be rolled out on a regional basis.

Agenda Item 6 - Incentive Pilot Schemes Update

NatureScot confirmed the 3 pilots would be repeated in 25/26 with the scheme expanding to an additional two locations:

• Central Scotland expanding to include the Operational Delivery Workstream priority delivery area
• South Loch Ness expanding
• Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority
• NatureScot were exploring with SGA deer management incentives scheme in the lowlands

There will also be an additional scheme within the Cairngorms National Park Authority extending to South Grampian.

Agenda Item 6 – Sika Deer Strategy

NatureScot presented a paper on a potential Sika Deer Strategy highlighting the issues and difficulties around the management of this species of deer. Sika Deer present an emerging threat to biodiversity and are typically more difficult to manage given their preferable habitat in woodlands. NatureScot advised there is a possibility of containing the current expansion by being clearer to the land owner what the requirement/policy around Sika deer is.

AP – NatureScot to come back to the Board with a further plan or strategy outlining the 5 key areas which require the most focussed management and how much this will cost.

AOB

The next meeting is due to be held on 1 September 2025. This is likely to be held in Appin.