Deer Drone surveying Northamptonshire

Descriptions

Natural England is working in conjunction with local partners and land owners to ascertain the deer density and movement routes in the 'project area' in order to allow for greater collaboration between listed partners and a subsequent increase in the numbers of deer culled. Drone surveys are required to understand the density, movements and location of deer herds within the Rockingham Landscape. We will be awarding a contract for Landscape Deer Density surveys in the north of the Rockingham Forest National Character Area. Rockingham Forest National Character Area (NCA) is essentially a broad, low, undulating ridge underlain by Jurassic limestone which falls away from a prominent, steep northern scarp overlooking the Welland Valley. Large areas of woodland remain a significant feature of the landscape and, while not forming continuous belts, the blocks of woodland often coalesce visually with hedgerow trees and smaller copses to increase the perception of extensive woodland cover across the landscape. The landscape is a patchwork of woodland and large- to medium-sized fields of mixed arable with some pastoral use surrounding small nucleated villages. Fields are commonly bounded by well-managed hedgerows with mature trees or drystone walls and display the rectilinear pattern of the enclosures set within a more sinuous pattern of older enclosures, winding lanes and watercourses. The survey and subsequent report need to be completed by 25th March 2025. The expectation is for the drone surveys to be completed between mid-February and mid-March 2025.