May 2026 – Deer are Attacking Trees
Hungry Roe Deer have been browsing on our tree bark !
Any trees with shorter tubes or where the spiral protectors have come off are vulnerable to this attack by deer. Replacing spirals and extending shorter tubes has been undertaken to deter deer.
It’s natural for deer to look for bark. Tree bark plays a vital role in a deer’s diet, serving as a significant food source. The outer bark of trees is highly nutritious, providing essential minerals and nutrients that contribute to a deer’s overall health.
Deer frequently consume the soft inner bark, known as cambium, which is rich in carbohydrates and easily digestible. In addition to its nutritional value, tree bark is also an important source of roughage for deer, aiding in digestion and maintaining healthy gut function. Sadly, if deer browse the full way around the tree (called girdling) the tree will die because this removes the cambium. The growth and longevity of trees depend entirely on a thin layer of living tissue known as the cambium. This layer is the engine of girth expansion, allowing a tree to increase in diameter throughout its life. Cambium is responsible for all of the tree’s secondary growth, producing the dense wood that provides structural support and the bark that offers protection.