Natural England is actively monitoring and managing significant browsing pressure from deer at Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve (NNR) in West Sussex. The reserve, spanning 147.9 hectares, is home to roe deer, fallow deer, and Reeve’s muntjac.
Deer density in the broader 200 square kilometre deer management area, which includes the reserve, is estimated at 17 deer per km2. Fallow deer are considered the primary threat due to concerns about a lack of regeneration, although all three species contribute to browsing pressure.
Lethal control has been the main method for tree protection at Kingley Vale NNR for over a decade. Since 2023, the reserve has also been part of a Protected Site Strategies (PSS) project led by Natural England, which aims to coordinate deer surveys and management across the wider landscape in collaboration with landowners.
Natural England has also trialled physical tree protection methods, such as small-scale exclosures, to encourage regeneration. These structures are designed to be relocated every 6 to 10 years to promote regeneration across the site.