FRS Co-Op’s Deer Management team took part in a landmark cross-national knowledge transfer event alongside the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and NatureScot, strengthening collaboration and best practice in deer population management across Ireland and Scotland.

Sharing Knowledge Across Borders

The three-day event, held from Tuesday 28th to Thursday 30th October, was organised by the NPWS, the Wicklow Deer Management Partnership (WDMP), and NatureScot. Participants gathered in the Wicklow Mountains and Glenveigh National Parks to exchange insights and experience on how best to manage deer populations sustainably.

Topics discussed included:

• Managing deer on state forests, national parks, and agricultural land
• Developing local deer management policies and collaborative frameworks
• Balancing biodiversity protection with agricultural and forestry needs

Collaborative Deer Management in Action

The event also included members of the Irish Deer Management Strategy Group (IDMSG), who alongside FRS have been tasked with establishing Ireland’s first-ever collaborative Deer Management Groups over the next four years.

FRS Co-Op will play a central facilitation role in this process, supporting best-practice deer management at a landscape scale. This work aims to reduce deer numbers where necessary, protect biodiversity, and safeguard agriculture and forestry nationwide.

Learning from Scottish Experience

Michael Keegan, Manager of FRS Co-Op’s Deer Management Programme, said:

“FRS were delighted to be part of this event. It’s a great privilege to get an opportunity like this to share knowledge and learn from the people who have been practising collaborative deer management in Scotland for decades.

A massive thank you to the Wicklow Deer Management Partnership, Wicklow and Donegal NPWS staff, and to NatureScot, for having the vision and foresight to hold such an event. We’ve had a lot of collaboration with NatureScot already, and hopefully this is the first of many such events.”

Supporting Sustainable Land Use Across Ireland

As Ireland’s Deer Management Programme continues to expand, FRS remains committed to building partnerships between landowners, farmers, state bodies, and conservation experts. Through collaborative approaches, Ireland can address over-population issues, prevent biodiversity loss, and ensure safer, more sustainable rural landscapes.

Have a query for our Deer Management Group? Click here.

Learn more about the Irish Deer Management Strategy Group here.