THE BDS MIDLANDS, WALES AND THE MARCHES BRANCH
Information on the British Deer Society (BDS) Midlands, Wales & the Marches branch including events, contacts, and news.
Branch Area and committee

BRANCH CONTACTS
Chair | Ian Skelton | chairmidlandswalesandthemarches@bds.org.uk |
Phone | T: 07885 843298 | |
Secretary | Sally Barrell | midlandswalesandthemarches@bds.org.uk |
BRANCH COMMITTEE
Chair | Ian Skelton |
Vice Chair | Alan Barrell |
Secretary | Sally Barrell |
Treasurer | Arnoud Roele |
Training Officer | Dominic Hayes |
Committee members:
John Richards, Richard Evans, Chris Lawton, Robert Taylor and Graham Barratt
BRANCH AREAS
Postcode | Area |
B | Birmingham |
CH | Chester |
CW | Crewe |
DE | Derby |
DY | Dudley |
HR | Hereford |
LD | Llandrindod Wells |
LL | Llandudno |
SA | Swansea |
ST | Stoke-on-Trent |
SY | Shrewsbury |
TF | Telford |
WR | Worcester |
WS | Walsall |
WV | Wolverhampton |
EVENTS
Date
Event
TBC
TBC
See the news section below for more details on our events.
We are also on Facebook please search ‘BDS Midlands Wales and Marches Branch’
NEXT BDS NATIONAL EVENT
No upcoming events, please check back soon.
NEWS
Branch Activities.
On Cannock Chase, there is a new Grazing for Conservation project using cattle to help manage and re-generate low-land heathland, Cannock Chase Rangers and committee members Rob Taylor and Baz Barrett have been instrumental in trialling mammal crossing points to help aid deer and other wildlife to move across areas of stock fencing.
These are post and rail fences with wide gapped rails at strategic points identified by an impact and activity survey conducted by the Cannock Chase deer predict before the fence line was planned. All medium to high use deer racks were identified and crossing points were installed on these racks.
Early indications have proved very positive with Fallow, Muntjac, badgers and fox regularly using the wildlife crossing points. Trail cam shots indicate the high level of usage by the deer. This especially helps fallow fawns move in family groups across the fence lines without hindrance and the dangers of injury by getting caught up in standard wire stock fencing.
The plan is to roll these out to other areas of Cannock Chase in the near future as new fences are installed or old ones are renewed.
In October we held yet another very successful First Aid +F course in Stafford, demand is such that these are destined to become a regular feature of Branch activities.
On 11th November many branch members were to be found at ‘poaching’ at a best practice event at The Gainsborough House Hotel, Kidderminster which was organised by The Forestry Commission and Wyre Forest Deer Management Group. The event featured an enthralling and lively talk by Professor Naomi Sykes on the history and movement of Fallow Deer around the UK and Europe from prehistoric to present times based on archaeological research, genome typing and historical records. It was followed by a talk from author and eminent deer stalker John Thornley on modern fallow deer management.
Branch Chair, Ian Skelton, continues to meet regularly with The Staffordshire Wildlife and Rural Crime Prevention Team. He is also liaising and providing advice to The M.6 Toll road management team on reducing road traffic collisions on the motorway by preventing Red Deer from straying onto the motorway.
Vice-Chair, Alan Barrell, continues to sit on two firearms licensing liaison user groups in the area, these covering Warwickshire and West Mercia Areas where he represents The BDS and The NGO.
The Branch is liaising with regard to a planning application for a solar park in an area of Shropshire which has a high Fallow population likely to be adversely affected by the development.

A plea for help
We have identified one possible site which may, following official inspection, be used as a rifle range for training purposes but we are on the lookout for any suitable site in our area. If anyone knows of a possible site would they please get in touch with the committee.
Your committee can be contacted as follows;
Chairman Ian Skelton on chairmidlandswalesandthemarches@bds.org.uk or tel. no. 07885843298
Secretary, Sally Barrell on midlandswalesandthemarches@bds.org.uk or tel. no. 07936511928

Stay in touch
If your contact information has changed please make sure to let us know. To update your details simply email membership@bds.org.uk or call 01425 655434.
LATEST NEWS

Restoring forests in the Cairngorms one burger at a time
Cairngorms Connect has launched a new project marketing venison, to share the story of forest expansion in the Cairngorms.

BDS Response to the Defra Consultation on Proposed Deer Management Strategy
The British Deer Society (BDS) has reviewed in detail the consultation on proposed deer management published by Defra on the 4th of August 2022. Whilst we welcome the consultation in general terms, and in particular the intent to develop a wider market for venison, we have serious concerns about some of the proposals.

Firearms and Mental Health – Awareness and Support Leaflet
The Scottish Firearms Licensing Practitioners Group has released a leaflet providing information on mental health support for firearms license holders.

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