Muntjac 'menace' damage 200 trees
MUNTJAC deer have been causing a headache for a Soham woman after damaging almost half of the trees and hedges she planted for the community.
Over the years Ann Jarman has created woodlands by planting between 500 and 1,000 trees in phases on land she owns in Hasse Road and a field next to Soham Village College, near to where she lives.
But about three years ago she noticed that wild Muntjac deer had started attacking some of the species and she said the problem had recently become much worse, with more of her trees being damaged and killed.
She believes around some 200 trees have been damaged by the small animals.
"They are a real plague to the whole of East Anglia," said Mrs Jarman, who owns The Old Fire Engine House restaurant in Ely.
"It really is heartbreaking as I tend to the trees and am quite careful.
"I thought it would be nice to plant native trees to bring a few back to the area and over the years we have planted many. Most are thriving but these few I have lost or losing because of the deer."
The 72 year old said she also had to give up her vegetable patch in her garden after the deer kept eating everything. She said many people in Soham and Wicken had been having problems with the Muntjac.
Trevor Banham, the Forestry Commission's chief wildlife officer for East Anglia, said Muntjac deer had become a growing problem for the whole area, with around 1,000 deer a year being culled in Thetford Forest. He said the only option people had of protecting land was to fence it off at a minimum of 5ft high or individually protect each area.
"Someone could also come in and shoot the deer but even by shooting three or four they will come back because they are a territorial animal," he added.
"There's nothing in between."
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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