Stag night: Demand for venison in Britain soars by a quarter

NATIONAL Trust properties could soon be set to stock more deer after annual demand for venison by UK shoppers soared by 25 per cent.

The lean and distinctive meat has seen unprecedented growth in sales across all sectors of retail but the UK’s supply remains far too small to fill the demand, allowing foreign competitors to flood the market.

However the British Deer Farms and Parks Association (BDFPA) is now looking to address this problem by reaching out to existing deer park owners, as well as owners and custodians of parkland, to encourage them to farm more red and fallow deer.

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The Yorkshire Post understands that talks are already underway with several National Trust properties in Yorkshire to begin stocking the animals.

Vice-chairman of the BDFPA and Yorkshire deer farmer Nigel Sampson, said: “UK parkland is ideal for deer farming and the addition of deer to this often under-used land can supply an additional income for the estate, as well as enhancing the local landscape.

“Grazing deer are a beautiful addition to the countryside, so it’s a win all round, there is no downside.”

Christopher Ussher, resident agent at Harewood House, near Leeds, which stocks more than !00 deer, said as well as providing additional income, deer brought a huge ecological and aesthetic benefit.

“Encouraging more British venison is positive,” he said.