Citylife in Lichfield September 2020

Cannock Chase’s Deer
Safety Initiative Begins
......................................
We all know and love it as a local Area of Outstanding Natural
Beauty, however there is a lot more that goes on behind the
scenes to ensure that the wildlife of Cannock Chase remains
protected.
The Cannock Chase Deer Safety Project has been set up by
Staffordshire County Council Ranger Service and is run by Project
Leader, Rob Taylor, along with a group of passionate volunteers interested
in helping, protecting and conserving the deer of Cannock Chase.
The campaign’s aims and objectives are five-fold and include: helping to
reduce the number of deer/vehicle collisions at various black spots;
educating road users of the risks; easing pressure on the emergency
services who attend deer-related incidents; monitoring which deterrent
works best; and finally, helping to protect the fallow deer population.
The campaign kicks off in September, ready for the upcoming deer rut.
As the mornings and evenings become darker, this corresponds with the
rush hour traffic and deer/vehicle collisions are usually seen to increase
by 50% during this time, culminating in approximately 150 incidents in the
area each and every year.
With support and funding from local businesses and groups (including
Staffordshire Commissioner/People Power Fund; Hanson’s Aggregates of
Pottal Pool; and The Friends of Cannock Chase) a number of high and
low tech deer deterrents have been sourced from Europe. The safety
project will be trailing three new types of deterrent as well as running
the virtual road fence along the A513 and sections of Penkridge Bank
Road, with a small stretch of red reflectors also being installed.
Volunteers from the project will be monitoring the various initiatives
to see how the deer react to the individual deterrents, and find out which
one is working most effectively.
Image showing how one of the reflectors works
The group will also be installing new safety signage and banners
warning road users of the higher risks of deer collisions in the autumn
and winter periods. Signage will also be installed highlighting the accident
black spots that involve deer, although any part of the road can be
affected.
Drivers are being asked to respect the advisory speed limit of 40mph
whilst travelling across Cannock Chase.
Nathan, Alastair, Zoe & Emily installing one of the new
generation deer reflectors.
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