THE BDS NORTH EAST BRANCH
Information on the British Deer Society (BDS) North East England branch including events, news, and contacts.
BRANCH AREA AND COMMITTEE
BRANCH CONTACTS
| Chair | David Stewart | d.stewart@bdsbranches.org.uk |
| Treasurer | Andrew Collinson | |
| Mentor scheme & Facebook | Glen Graham | |
| RCO | Jonathan Spencer | |
| Muntjac coordinator | Ian Smales |
BRANCH COMMITTEE MEMBERS
David Adams
David Boyson
Andrew Collinson
Jeremy Feggetter (co-opted)
Steve Horner
Stephen Hyde
Stuart Jones
Ian Smales (co-opted)
Jonathan Spencer
David Stewart
BRANCH AREAS
| Postcode | Area |
| DH | Durham |
| DL | Darlington |
| NE | Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
| SR | Sunderland |
| TS | Cleveland |
EVENTS
Please note that branch events may not be going ahead due to Covid-19 pandemic.
Date
EVENT
9th Mar 7:00PM
DEFENCE DEER MANAGEMENT AT RAF SPADEADAM (ONLINE)
24th Mar 7:30PM
WEBINAR: Meet the Sponsor Blaser Special (Online)
13th Apr 7:00PM
Firearms Licencing and health (Online)
11th May 7:00PM
Support organisations for mental health and well-being (Online)
Next Event
Defence Deer Management - NE England Branch Zoom Event
09/03/2021 7:00 PM
Defence Deer Management at RAF Spadeadam. This event is being hosted by the BDS North East England Branch and will be held via Zoom on the 9th of March 2021 from 7 pm. For further details and to book a place contact d.stewart@bdsbranches.org.uk
NEWS
This last year has been overshadowed by Covid-19, which has been particularly tough for those living and working in the North East England region.
Obviously, Covid has prevented branch member activity for the Autumn quarter as it did during the spring and summer. As a consequence, the branch committee is concerned that it is losing touch with the members for whom we work and to whom we are accountable.
Please ensure we have your up-to-date contact information so we can keep in touch.
The committee has been meeting regularly via Zoom and is starting to try out activities for members through this medium.
Branch members are not renowned for voicing their opinions (except when something is amiss!) so in these unusual times, the branch committee is inviting feedback from members to help us provide the service they want.
Please email, phone or text us on what you want from us, or better still post to the branch Facebook page.
Facebook – North East Branch BDS
The branch Facebook page was set up to give both members and non-members alike a place to share north east deer-related matters.
For the first year (2019) membership was open to almost anyone and although there were about 150 registered users there was no interaction, and most postings were dependent on Al Gabriel who set up the page.
Jamie Tranter took over from Al in summer 2020 when Al joined BASC Council. Jamie changed the group to be what it is now, a place for North East BDS members to share information and discuss issues.
With Jamie moving away Glen Graham is coming back to help and between us all, we hope we can make the page the first port of call for branch members wanting information ideas and opinions.
Have Sika settled in the south of the region?
There is solid evidence of sika deer arriving in the south of the region with a Manchurian sika pricket being shot recently having turned up with the reds and fallow inside Raby Park.
The nearest known sika population is about 50 miles away. So how did it get there and where has it come from?
Finding a Range
Finding a rifle range remains a priority for the committee. Covid has halted David Boyson’s efforts to find a suitable site, but hopefully, we will be back on with the task in spring.
Northumbria Police Rural Crime Volunteers
As reported in the last issue of Deer, half a dozen branch members have been helping Northumbria Police reduce rural crime through their Rural Crime Volunteer (RCV) initiative.
The initiative is to train and utilise a significant network of ‘eyes and ears’ to support the police rural crime team.
For most North East BDS branch members who volunteer, the motivation is to help reduce poaching which seems to have been achieved over this last year. The volunteers can also be proud of their contribution to help the police with solving many other rural crimes.
Muntjac Monitoring Group
The muntjac monitoring group is now established and operating within the constraints of Covid. The group’s purpose is to monitor the progress of the species through the branch area by investigating and validating reports of sightings of muntjac deer in the branch area.
The group is led by Ian Smales, supported by branch members Stuart Jones, Neil Baker and David Stewart. The group has had to defer its training programme hosted by local Natural England staff until Covid allows.
Despite this, the group has been actively following up reports of muntjac being seen in Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and Durham. So far none of the sightings have been proven to be correct.
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
Changes to DSC1 and DSC2
Information has recently been shared relating to changes to DSC1 and DSC2 made by Deer Management Qualifications (DMQ).. These changes come into effect on April the 1st.
Relaxation of Covid-19 Restrictions
Due to the planned relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions, the BDS will from March the 8th be resuming delivery of DSC1 and Deer Management Courses. Find out more.
New Video – How to Complete a Habitat Impact Assessment
The Farm Advisory Service has produced a great new video detailing How to Complete a Habitat Impact Assessment.
In the video Conservation Consultant, Helen Bibby, and Professor Rory Putman, Chair of the British Deer Society & visiting Professor at the University of Glasgow, take you through all the key steps on how to undertake a Habitat Impact Assessment.
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