I'm Ben Marks, an independent deer stalker based at Graffham, near Petworth. The Deer Project is how wild venison from the South Downs gets from the landscape to your kitchen. None of it is farmed. I manage wild fallow deer for conservation, working with Natural England, Sussex Grazed and the South Downs National Park. Deer numbers have risen sharply across England, and where there are too many they can stop young trees regenerating and damage woodland habitat. Here in Sussex, managing those numbers also produces something worth eating. I butcher the deer myself and turn the meat into everything from loin and rump steaks to mince, diced venison, sausages and burgers. I also worked with Brighton & Hove Food Partnership's Sussex Grazed project to develop its quarter-venison 'Browsing Box', alongside meat from animals grazing the South Downs for conservation. My own Venison Browsing Boxes currently come in three sizes, from the £48 Firestarter BBQ Box to the 6–7kg Meat Lover Special at £115. The smaller box has sausages, burgers, rump steaks, loin and shawarma-glazed cutlets; the largest adds cuts including mince, diced venison, stir-fry, shank and a roasting joint. Gluten-free Herbinator sausages or burgers are available on request. If you've never cooked wild venison at home, the smaller box is a good place to start. I also sell at local markets and festivals where we I also cook and serve venison to eat. My contact details are in one of the photographs.

Social Media

Instagram: @the.deer.project

Can people visit or buy direct?

Yes. Venison Browsing Boxes can be ordered online, subject to availability. The Deer Project is based at Lavington Park and visits are by appointment only.

Website

https://www.instagram.com/the.deer.project/

Address Summary

Near Petworth, West Sussex