A PROPOSAL has been submitted to Scottish Borders Council to erect 956 metres of fencing to prevent deer from eating trees and shrubbery on a developing woodland.

An application for a certificate of lawfulness has been submitted to Scottish Borders Council for a perimeter deer fence, duct board bridges over drainage ditches and re-routing of a section of a public right of way on land at and incorporating Eastside Cottage at Spottiswoode in Gordon.

The application site relates to a private residential property which borders the northern boundary of Edgarhope Forest.

The site has a relatively dense layer of trees and vegetation in and around the boundary, and facilitates an existing Public Right of Way which runs through the south-western area of the site.

The last few years have seen a significant decrease in the density of trees in the surrounding woodland as a result of disease (ash die back), losses from Storm Arwen in 2021 and poor tree health of predominately beech trees which are reaching the end of their natural lifespan.

Therefore, the applicant wishes to re-stock wooded areas with native tree species to ensure the long term viability of the woodland and wider biodiversity.

Deer fencing would thus prevent unwanted deer grazing on the new woodland and the private gardens of the property.

A submission with the application, from Dunfermline-based Gray Planning and Development, states: “The site is located within a woodland area and borders the Edgarhope Forest whereby deer are free to roam.

“The existing character of the property boundary does not prevent or manage deer entering the residential property and gardens associated, and eating trees and shrubbery.

“Therefore, the proposed 956m perimeter deer fence would control deer activity in the vicinity and allow the newly planted trees to develop fully.

“Due to path users not using the Right of Way as routed it has been noted that since Covid times, a large increase of people passing through the site on horses and bicycles use unauthorised paths and desire line and therefore cause damage to private land.

“The proposed creation of new earthen pathways with board walks and the erection of the fencing can serve a dual purpose of managing recreational users as well.”