“Regeneration of woody species is perhaps the biggest problem in Brineddin Wood with the two main factors being deer grazing and lack of light penetration through the canopy. Without recruitment of young trees, the wood is under threat in the long term.“
That is the conclusion of a survey carried out by the Shropshire Wildlife Trust which could only give the wood a ‘Satisfactory’ rating. For the summary report click here to be redirected to another page on our website.
Redlake Valley Community Benefit Society 
Dear Patrick, Thanks you for your email. As we wanted to protect a fairly large area (approx 80 X 40 m) we ent for a cheap and cheerful model of 1.8m heavy duty plastic mesh. One year on thjs is holding up well although we have had to retro-fit a skirt of chicken wire to stop the rabbits biting their way through. We monitor the effectiveness of the fencing very frequently. Regarding deer species, Roe Deer are there in abundance and seen frequently in broad daylight. There have been sighting of Muntjac nearby so they are almost certainly there. Many thanks for the offer of advice. we may take you up on it. Kind regards, Patrick Cosgrove
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To whom it may be of concern. I read with interest your report regarding the status and of lack of natural regeneration in your woodland and would like to draw attention to the attached photograph of an exclosure plot that we use for monitoring deer impact. These plots are made of 1.2mt high weld mesh and are roughly 2mt across. They need to be sited over vulnerable species with the same varieties close by so that a direct comparison can be made with protected and un protected. This method is extensively used by the Deer Initiative on behalf of Natural England and Natural Resources Wales across the country and prove to be a very simple but worthwhile monitoring method. Each site should be visited if possible by the same person each year in early spring that way consistency of the results will be achieved. Also your report doesn’t mention which species of deer are responsible for the impact in your wood, this information could be very important to the management of the deer. I hope this information is of help and please contact me if you require more guidance in the future regarding deer.
Many thanks Patrick Faulkner Deer Management Advisor for the Deer Initiative.
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