THE red deer population on the Quantocks is growing – and that’s official!

The Quantock Deer Management and Conservation Group carried out its 25th annual late winter deer count day and more than 60 people took part.

A total of 563 different red deer were recorded on the day – an increase of about ten per cent on the previous year and the highest count since 2010.

But count organiser Jochen Langbein said: “It is important to note that in this one-off annual count we do not presume to record the entire Quantock red deer population, as some deer within the count area are likely to be missed in concealing cover, and some stags tend to move further off the hills from late winter onwards.”

Fellow organiser Rebekah West added: “The main value of this annual exercise lies in it being undertaken in the same manner year on year – to confirm minimum numbers of red deer remaining and to serve as an index of long-term population trends.”

Owen Jones, another count organiser, said: “We would like to extend our thanks to all the volunteers - including ten newcomers - who turned out at the crack of dawn to assist, as well as to all Quantock landholders for their continued cooperation with this count, and to the Quantock Hills AONB service and The Deer Initiative for logistic and financial support.”