A key factor holding back native forest restoration and expansion in Scotland is grazing pressure from unnaturally high numbers of deer, giving native woodland little chance to recover. Consequently, deer management is a necessary tool for ecological restoration.

By harnessing the venison generated by the Cairngorms Connect Partnership’s deer management work, Cairngorms Connect Venison not only provides a healthy, local, sustainable food source at affordable prices, but also connects people to the landscape that surrounds them through the food they eat and the consumer choices they make.

At this year’s Hill to Grill festival in Nethy Bridge, over 800 Cairngorms Connect Venison burgers were cooked up and given away for free to give a taste of this sustainable local food source – a record-breaking number for the event.

^{Left: Nikki Wilkinson teaches people about the different cuts of venison. Right: Catriona Frankitti and partner demonstrate different venison recipes. Photos by Catriona Parmenter Photography}

People learned about different cuts of meat during a very popular butchery demonstration by local butcher Nikki Wilkinson and were inspired to try new ways to incorporate wild venison into everyday meals with cooking demonstrations by Scottish food expert Catriona Frankitti.

^{Deer Stalker Cameron Waite demonstrates equipment, Lucy Cooke led foraging walks, and Sarah Hobbs shared local folklore. Photos by Catriona Parmenter Photography}

Cairngorms Connect Deer Stalkers were on hand to chat to attendees about deer management for conservation and the work they do. Connections with the local forest were forged through guided nature walks with Sarah Hobbs from Strathspey Storywalks sharing local folklore, forager Lucy Cooke teaching people about edible plants, and Ian Sargent from NatureScot pointing out signs of wildlife.

^{Members of the Cairngorms National Park Junior Rangers during Hill to Grill. Photo by Catriona Parmenter Photography.}

Cairngorms National Park Junior Rangers (11–18 years old) were enthusiastic contributors, running scavenger hunts and craft activities for kids as well as building communication skills by taking over the Cairngorms Connect Instagram Account to document the event!

^{Mike from Balliefurth Farm Shop selling Cairngorms Connect Venison. Photos by Catriona Parmenter Photography}

Cairngorms Connect Venison is available to purchase from the regularly stocked Balliefurth Farm Shop in Nethy Bridge, RSPB Scotland’s Loch Garten Nature Centre during Spring and Summer months, and is soon to be available to buy at CrossFit Cairngorm in Aviemore. The Old Bridge Inn in Aviemore will once again include Cairngorms Connect Venison on the special board with delicious dishes in the evening such as pan-fried loin of venison with a red wine jus served with root vegetables.

In addition to its environmental credentials, venison has approximately a third of the fat found in beef and is significantly lower in cholesterol, whilst at the same time containing more protein and essential amino acids. Produced and processed locally, Cairngorms Connect Venison has low food miles, a low carbon footprint and is 100% leadfree.