Welcome to Forest to Fork

Forest to Fork is a family run business based on the Black Isle in the Highlands of Scotland. We provide a professional deer management service and run a small larder for processing our venison. This enables us to ensure total traceability. Every pack of venison butchered and sold by Forest to Fork can be traced back to within a few feet of its source.

Sustainability is at the centre of our business model; managing deer populations to improve habitats and provide a healthy source of local wild meat for our customers.

We strive to maintain the highest standards. Forest to Fork is proud to be the only certified member of the Scottish Quality Wild Venison assurance scheme operating as a producer and as a processor. This demonstrates our commitment to animal welfare, stalker competency, carcase handling and hygiene standards.

Nick Richards has over 25 years’ experience of deer management covering a range of properties, both in woodland and on the open hill. A clear demand for focussed deer management and locally sourced, wild venison motivated Nick to establish Forest to Fork in 2011.

Nick holds Deer Stalking Certificates (Level 1 & 2) and is registered as Fit & Competent with NatureScot, operating to industry best practice. All aspects of the business are undertaken, or closely supervised by Nick to ensure consistency and accountability.

Nick qualified with a BSc Honours degree in Land Management back in 1995. After gaining a range of experience working on a variety of farms and estates, he joined a private forestry company in 1997. Starting in Wales, followed by a brief spell in England, he finally made it to Scotland in 2000 where he continues to work in the forestry sector.

Married with two daughters, all of who are keen and competent deer stalkers. The whole family takes a very active role in running the business from assisting with the deer cull to selling venison at the local markets.

There are three species of wild deer commonly found in Scotland:

The iconic Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) which is the largest land mammal in the UK found mainly on the hill ground.

The timid Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) which can be found in most woodlands throughout Scotland.

The elusive Sika Deer (Cervus Nippon) which favours woodland but strays on to the hill, often hybridising with red deer.