Temporary Deer Fencing

[Dorset Treeman]

We were hoping to temporary deer fence the first coupe of overstood hazel we are coppicing this winter in a local Dorset woodland. I have seen this done on a wildlife trust site where they used a proper post around every 15m and hazel rods inbetween (one upright and one at an angle supporting each upright rod) which we were thinking of replicating, or something similar. Has anyone used these methods and can they offer any advice on the erection of temporary deer fencing or recommend any suppliers?

 

Thanks

 

Alan

[arbwork]

1 solution is to use left over arisings to fence the coppice compartment for a while to allow regrowth to survive pic here of system used by Hazel Products -Hazel Woodland Products, Northants

[the village idiot]

I doubt whether overstood hazel will generate enough material to construct a dead hedge around the compartment. Lots of people are using Heras fencing panels to protect the regrowth.

If browsing pressure is low you may get away with spreading the tops over the whole coupe.

[JamesWood]

Hi

 

We temporary fence nearly all our coupes, its easy / cheap..

 

We fence by using perimeter trees with stakes (cut from the coppice) in between. The wire fence is unrolled around the coupe and pulled tight by hand or using a bar around the tree for leverage. It is stapled into the posts and so held in tension. If the gap between two trees is too long the fence needs additional support of an intermediate post which is placed in between. There is no damage to these trees as posts are tied around these to stop the fencing wire making contact with the trees. Light gauge wire deer fencing is ideal. Each coupe only needs fencing for 2-3 years before the regrowth will be far out of deer's reach. Therefore only 2 coupe sizes of fencing are required to keep a coppice woodland protected. It usually takes 2 of us 1 day to fence an acre. This fencing wire itself should last quite a long time (15 years +). Plus this is a well tried and tested method in N lancs/ Cumbria/ Yorkshire and probably many other places.

 

The advantage of the wire fencing as opposed to high tensile plastic is that it is easy to remove when all the bramble has grown through it. The plastic is quickly damaged after one or two uses and is therefore much more expensive in the long run. So an investment of 2 years fencing will keep each coppice coup deer free for the next 15 years at least. Cost wise one acre needs 250 m of fence so 2 years coppice coupe's is 500m or 5 rolls of 100m. Light gauge wire deer fencing is £170 for 100m. Therefore total cost for a coupe £425 or £850 total for 2 coupes on rotation.

 

Hope that helps..

 

Might have some pictures somewhere too..

 

Good luck, no point cutting for product if your coppice is getting munched!

 

James

[GrahamW]

Interesting post above, would be good to see some pics if possible.

 

I've used both Heras panels and Tenax to exclude deer and both are very effective. However, Tenax needs to be installed well to work properly (sounds obvious, but it's amazing how often you see it just thrown up in the hope it will be deer proof). I have found it best to strain a top and bottom wire from posts around the perimeter, then hog ring the Tenax to the wire. The next thing to consider is rabbit damage at the bottom of the fence. Rabbits like to chew holes in the Tenax, and they usually end up big enough for deer to get through, so it's worth adding a strip of rabbit wire to the bottom of the Tenax, again hog ringed in place.

 

This adds expense to the whole operation, of course, but if coppice is your livelihood it is worth it in the long run.

[Dorset Treeman]

Hi

 

We temporary fence nearly all our coupes, its easy / cheap..

 

We fence by using perimeter trees with stakes (cut from the coppice) in between. The wire fence is unrolled around the coupe and pulled tight by hand or using a bar around the tree for leverage. It is stapled into the posts and so held in tension. If the gap between two trees is too long the fence needs additional support of an intermediate post which is placed in between. There is no damage to these trees as posts are tied around these to stop the fencing wire making contact with the trees. Light gauge wire deer fencing is ideal. Each coupe only needs fencing for 2-3 years before the regrowth will be far out of deer's reach. Therefore only 2 coupe sizes of fencing are required to keep a coppice woodland protected. It usually takes 2 of us 1 day to fence an acre. This fencing wire itself should last quite a long time (15 years +). Plus this is a well tried and tested method in N lancs/ Cumbria/ Yorkshire and probably many other places.

 

The advantage of the wire fencing as opposed to high tensile plastic is that it is easy to remove when all the bramble has grown through it. The plastic is quickly damaged after one or two uses and is therefore much more expensive in the long run. So an investment of 2 years fencing will keep each coppice coup deer free for the next 15 years at least. Cost wise one acre needs 250 m of fence so 2 years coppice coupe's is 500m or 5 rolls of 100m. Light gauge wire deer fencing is £170 for 100m. Therefore total cost for a coupe £425 or £850 total for 2 coupes on rotation.

 

Hope that helps..

 

Might have some pictures somewhere too..

 

Good luck, no point cutting for product if your coppice is getting munched!

 

James

 

Hi James, I have sent you a message asking where you get you're deer fencing supplies.

 

Thanks

 

Alan

[Logan]

I am interested in this wire also. Deer damage is very depressing to say the least.

[Peat]

Didn't realise you could get wire fencing so cheap. Not massively more than plastic and will certainly last much longer. Found this place Farm Forestry selling the lightest gauge for £168.70 plus VAT. Cheaper if you get a pallet load.

[Logan]

Good find peat. A pallet of that would be good. Any thoughts on whether this wire would be damaging to bird life in a wildlife rich wood?

[saintsman54]

I have used Heras fencing to good effect, it is also easy to erect and transport and then moving on to an additional area is also easy. The other method which I have used in areas were aesthetics are important is good quality chestnut paling fencing (1.2m), which has had good results in fairly high deer density areas.