Deer Tree Shelter and Deer/Hare Fencing Scheme

The Deer Tree Shelter and Deer/Hare Fencing Scheme provides financial support for measure which protect trees from damage. All three species of deer in Ireland are capable of inflicting serious damage to trees - sika deer, fallow deer and red deer.

The types of deer damage include:

• browsing - which is the grazing of foliage of young trees that can lead to tree death, misshapen trees and delayed crop establishment
• bark stripping is the gnawing of bark, which may result in stem breakage, death or infection and seriously reduces the quality of the timber
• fraying damage to trees is caused when deer rub their antlers against the bark in order to remove the “velvet” from their antlers, or to mark territory

Installing tree shelters and fencing can prevent this damage.

The option to participate in this scheme is voluntary but can be used on all suitable sites where there is a risk of deer damage to trees. The Deer Tree Shelter scheme can be used in the additional broadleaf (ADB) parts of conifer plots and in standalone diverse conifer or broadleaf plots.

The minimum stocking where trees are in the Deer Tree Shelter scheme is 625 trees / hectare whether this is in additional broadleaf (ADB) or in diverse conifer or broadleaf plots. This is achieved at an average stocking of 4 metres by 4 metres.

The following criteria apply to deer fencing:

• in order to be eligible for funding broadleaved sites must have greater than 40% deer damage on the areas proposed for enclosure by deer fencing
• all fencing material must be in accordance with fencing specifications as set out in the Forestry Standards Manual
• fencing upgrades and new fencing must be clearly shown on a fencing map and must show the total length in metres

You must comply with the terms of the scheme.

These are the terms and conditions of the Deer Tree Shelter and Deer/Hare Fencing Scheme. The scheme provides financial support for measures which protect trees from damage.

The maximum area for receipt of the additional Deer Tree Shelter grant is 2 hectares for Grant and Premium Categories 4 – 10 of the Afforestation Scheme 2014-2020. This limit does not apply for broadleaves planted in additional broadleaves (ADB). An additional fixed grant of €600/ha under deer tree shelters is available under the scheme.

The following payment rates for fencing apply:

Hare fencing

A contribution of €2.5/m up to a maximum of 140m per ha (€350/ha) may be available for forests that have been subject to hare damage. Eligible plantations must have 30% hare damage.

Applications for these payment are made through a registered forester under the Afforestation Scheme 2014-2020 using the forms below.