Swaffham Town Council says it will not cull hungry muntjac

David Ward, 81, has said he is no longer willing to pay £45 a year to use his allotment in Swaffham as crops have come under siege from pesky muntjac deer and rats. 

He asked Swaffham Town Council to address the issue, suggesting that they cull the deer, but has seen his efforts dismissed.

Although his own vegetables have not been damaged, he fears they will be the next victims. 

The deer have been destroying produce including broad beans, runner beans, tomatoes and leeks. 

He said: "It's a real shame, it's just not worth doing this anymore. So many people have complained to me about it.

"We pay a lot of money to use the allotments and I'm so fed up with it."

Damaged bluebells where muntjac have chomped all the flowers at the allotments at Swaffham (Image: Denise Bradley)Mr Ward has had his patch near Shouldham Lane for nearly a decade, but is now considering giving it up over his muntjac woes. He has covered up all of his vegetables to protect them from pests. 

Swaffham Town Council said: "We received one complaint from an allotment holder regarding muntjac deer. Their suggestion was to cull the deer.  

"Councillors unanimously agreed not to consider this option. While we do sympathise with allotment holders when their crops are destroyed, with the allotment site being in such a rural area, the presence of wildlife and vermin is unfortunately inevitable."

David Ward's allotment at Swaffham, where everything is covered up to protect his crops from roaming muntjac (Image: Denise Bradley)READ MORE: East Anglian pea crop has beaten the odds after loss of factory where it was frozen

Mr Ward has covered his crops to protect them from roaming muntjac, which he says has been successful in keeping them at bay so far. 

Dick Hewitt raising the fence around his allotment in Swaffham (Image: Denise Bradley)Dick Hewitt, who also uses the Swaffham allotment, has used wire to raise the height of his fencing. 

"The council aren't going to do anything about this," Mr Ward added. "I'm probably going to give it up."