Muntjac deer Muntiacus reevesi

Thetford Forest and the wooded edges around Brandon carry one of the region’s highest muntjac populations, and gardens and smallholdings on the forest fringe take the brunt of it — roses, vegetable beds and young hedging browsed back hard, often overnight. Unlike native deer, muntjac are small, resident and active all year round — not just an autumn problem tied to a rutting season.

We assess the browsing pattern and the routes deer are using into a garden or field before recommending fencing height, planting changes or deterrents — a fix that ignores how they’re actually getting in rarely holds for long.