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.

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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?"