What is the WS1 Deer Management Scheme – And Can You Claim It on Your Land?

A Guide for Farmers, Landowners, and Woodland Managers in Herefordshire & the West Midlands

If you're a landowner or farmer in Herefordshire or the West Midlands, you’ve likely seen the effects of rising deer populations — bark stripping, damaged crops, and overgrazed young trees.

What many don’t realise is that government funding may be available to help cover the cost of deer control.

What is WS1?

WS1 is a Woodland Supplement grant from the Forestry Commission. It offers financial support for structured, professional deer management on woodlands where deer are causing damage.

It promotes responsible population control through a Deer Management Plan (DMP), habitat impact assessments, and sustainable culling.

How Much is the Grant Worth?

The WS1 grant typically pays around £105 per hectare for eligible woodland. Some agreements now use the updated CWS1 code, but the funding principles are similar.

• ✅ Submit a compliant Deer Management Plan (DMP)
• ✅ Record cull data and impact surveys
• ✅ Receive government support for ethical deer control

Who is Eligible?

Landowners with woodland at risk from deer may be eligible if they’re part of:

• A Woodland Management Plan
• A wider Environmental Land Management (ELM) or Countryside Stewardship scheme

What’s Required?

To access WS1 funding, landowners must:

• 📄 Submit a Deer Management Plan in Year 1
• 📸 Record habitat impact with surveys and photos
• 🦌 Report cull data in years 3 and 5
• 🗺️ Keep maps, records, and ongoing monitoring

How The Hunting Project Can Help

We offer full support for landowners and estate managers across Herefordshire and the West Midlands — from professional deer control to handling WS1 compliance.

• ✅ On-foot and drone-assisted deer population surveys
• ✅ Creation of Deer Management Plans (DMPs)
• ✅ Impact monitoring and habitat assessments
• ✅ Ethical, licensed culling aligned with your plan
• ✅ Cull return management and documentation

 

Areas We Cover

We operate across:

• Herefordshire: Hereford, Ledbury, Leominster, Ross-on-Wye
• Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Shropshire & South Wales
• Forest of Dean, Monmouth, Malvern Hills, Abergavenny

Get in Touch

If you think your land may be eligible for WS1 or CWS1 — or if you simply want a professional solution to ongoing deer damage — contact us today. We’ll assess your site, advise on funding, and handle the management for you.

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This blog post is for informational purposes only. WS1/CWS1 eligibility is subject to government guidance and may change over time. For full details, visit the official WS1 guidance.