At first glance, Scotland’s ‘deer problem’ appears to be an ecological issue: too many hungry mouths putting pressure on already depleted woodlands and peatlands.

Beneath the surface, however, debates over deer numbers, deer impacts and deer economics, reflect a much deeper ideological divide about what the Scottish uplands are for, and who gets to shape their future.

The deer problem, in other words, is really a people problem.

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At the Edge is an independent media and communications platform exploring how people and wildlife can thrive together.

Follow us on Instagram, or join me, Peter Cairns, on LinkedIn and Bluesky. And if you like what we do, please consider Buying Me A Coffee to support the production of future podcasts and other content.

This episode of At The Edge is produced in partnership with Adventurous Audio and is kindly supported by Ballintean Mountain Lodge.

Useful links

Meet the contributors from this episode on LinkedIn: Thomas MacDonnel, Donald Rowantree, Callum Leavey-Wilson, Sam Tedcastle, Nicola Williamson.

Read Views from the Hill by Callum Leavey-Wilson

Learn more about the work of The Common Ground Forum

Learn more about the Affric Highlands red deer tracking project

Learn more about the Centre for Good Relations

Learn more about The Fiadh Project

Read Peter Cairns' illustrated feature: "Monarch or Menace?"

Britain’s woodlands and grasslands were once shaped by vast herds of wild cattle — the now-extinct aurochs. But in a Dutch laboratory, scientists have brought these powerful herbivores back to life — in part at least.

Tauros cattle share 95% of their DNA with the aurochs and have been bred to restore the natural grazing processes long lost from Europe’s ecosystems. Now roaming in increasing numbers across the Continent, could the Tauros fulfil a similar role in the UK? And if not, what’s standing in the way?

Additional info

At the Edge is an independent media platform that takes a deep dive into our relationship with wild nature, exploring pathways to living well with wildlife.

Follow us on Instagram, or join me, Peter Cairns, on LinkedIn and Bluesky. And if you like what we do, please consider Buying Me A Coffee to support the production of future podcasts and other content.

This episode of At The Edge is produced in partnership with Adventurous Audio and is kindly supported by Ballintean Mountain Lodge.

Useful links

Meet the contributors from this episode on LinkedIn:

Grazelands Rewilding, Henry Dobson.

Learn more about the work of Grazelands Rewilding here.

Learn more about natural grazing here and here.

Learn more about Tauros cattle.

The availability of the excellent film 'Return of the aurochs' isn't clear, but you can contact the producers here. I have a copy myself, so let me know if you're keen to organise a screening and I'll try and help.