Brenda Mayle, MSc

Programme Group Manager, Centre for Human and Ecological Sciences

Brenda joined Forest Research in 1978, where she has specialised in animal population ecology and management. She has a HND in Agriculture (from Seale Hayne College) and gained an MSc in Wildlife Management and Control at Reading University in 1991.

Current role

Programme Group Manager, Centre for Human and Ecological Sciences

Provision of knowledge transfer and advice on all wildlife management issues - particularly Squirrels, deer, tree protection, bats. Providing advice on all aspects of deer and squirrel population management and control to policy makers, forest industry and the public. Represents Forestry Commission on UK Red Squirrel Group; England, Scotland and Wales Squirrel Fora.

Current programmes

Management of grey squirrels
Project Manager. Responsible for direction and management of research projects to reduce the impact of grey squirrels on woodlands, and to improve woodland management practices to benefit red squirrels.

Collaborative frameworks in land management: a case-study of wild deer in Britain

Research areas

• Grey squirrel management
• Deer density assessment
• Woodland bat ecology and management.

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Publications and reports

Mayle, B.A., Proudfoot, J. and Poole, J. (2009).  Influence of tree size and dominance on incidence of bark stripping by grey squirrels to oak and impact on tree growth Forestry 2009; doi: 10.1093/forestry/cpp015. Abstract, Full text, PDF ^(195K)

Ferryman, M., Mayle, B. A. and Morgan, G. W. (2006). Visual method for evaluating the state of sexual development in male grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis). Reproduction, Fertility and Development 18, 383-393.

Mayle, B. A. (2005). Britain’s woodlands under threat; Grey squirrels and the risk they pose to European woodlands. Trees, Journal of the International Tree Foundation. 65 9-11.

Poulsom, L., Griffiths, M., Broome, A. and Mayle, B. (2005) Identification of priority woodlands for red squirrel conservation in North and Central Scotland: a preliminary analysis. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 089 (ROAME No. FO2AC334)

Ferryman, M. and Mayle, B. (2005). Grey squirrel damage prediction - interim progress. Ecotype 30, 1-2.

Mayle, B., Proudfoot, J., Poole, J. & Rose, J. (2004). Grey squirrel bark stripping damage: influence on tree growth and timber quality. Final Report to Forestry Group.

Mayle B.A. (2004). Grey Squirrel management in woodlands. In Quine, Shore & Trout (Eds) Managing Woodlands and their Mammals. Proceedings of a symposium organised jointly by the Mammal Society and the Forestry Commission.

Poulsom, L., Griffiths, M., Broome, A. & Mayle, B. (2004). The application of Landscape analysis to identify priority woodlands for red squirrel conservation in Scotland. In Landscape Ecology of trees and forests (Ed. Richard Smithers). Poster abstract. IALE UK and Woodland Trust.

Hewson, C., Fuller, R., Mayle, B. and Smith ,K. (2004). Possible impacts of grey  squirrels on birds and other wildlife.  British Wildlife 15 (3) 183-191 

Mayle, B. and  Gurnell, J. (2004). Squirrel control in conifers. Forestry & British Timber. 33 ( 4) April 2004 16-19    

Willoughby I. Et al Mayle, B., (2004). Reducing Pesticide Use in Forestry. Forestry Commission Practice Guide. pp 141.

Mayle, B., Pepper, H. & Ferryman, M (2004). Controlling Grey Squirrel Damage to Woodlands. Forestry Commission Practice Note  4 (Revised). FC Edinburgh.16pp. 

Armstrong H., Gill, R. Mayle, B. and Trout. (2003). Protecting trees from deer: an overview of Current knowledge and Future Work Forest Research Annual Report and Accounts 2001-2002. pp 29-39

Mayle, B. A. (2003). The Impact of Introduced deer on the Natural Environment. In MammAliens – A one day conference on the problems caused by Non- Native British Mammals. (Ed) C.P. Bowden. Peoples Trust for Endangered Species; Mammals Trust UK, London 49- 52.  
 
Gurnell J. and Mayle B.A. (2003). Ecological Impacts of the Alien Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) in Britain. In MammAliens – A one day conference on the problems caused by Non- Native British Mammals. (Ed) C.P. Bowden. Peoples Trust for Endangered Species; Mammals Trust UK, London 40 - 45.

Mayle, B., Pepper, H. & Ferryman, M. (2003). Grey Squirrel Control in Woodlands. Forestry Commision Practice Note 4 (Revised).

Mayle, B.A. (2001).  Roe Package Trials End of Trials Report. Report to Forest Enterprise.

Marques, F., Buckland, S., Goffin, D., Dixon, C., Borchers, D., Mayle, B. & Peace, A. (2001). Estimating deer abundance from transect surveys of dung: sika deer in southern Scotland.  Journal of Applied Ecology, 38 (2) 349-363.

Mayle, B.A. (2000).  Grazing in Woodland.  Tree News, Autumn 2000, 7-9.

Mayle, B.A., Putman, R.J. and Wyllie, J. (2000). The use of trackway counts to establish an index of deer presence.  Mammal Review. 30, (3&4) 233-237.

Mayle, B.A. (1999).  Domestic stock grazing to enhance woodland biodiversity. Forestry Commission Information Note 28.

Mayle, B.A. (1999).  Managing deer in the countryside. Forestry Commission Practice Note 6.

Mayle, B.A. & Peace, A.J. (1999).  Recent progress in determining deer population size: Factors influencing faecal pellet group decay.  In: Zomborszky, Z. (Ed).  Advances in Deer Biology.  Proceedings of the 4th International Deer Biology Congress, 1998, Hungary, Kaposvβr, pp 57-62.

Mayle, B.A., Peace, A.J. & Gill, R.M.A. (1999).  How many deer?  A Fieldguide to estimating deer populations.  Forestry Commission Fieldbook 18.  Lead author, co-ordinator and editor.

Mayle, B.A., Gill, R.M.A. & Pepper, H.W. (1998). Management of Deer in the Lowlands. Forest Research. Annual Report and Accounts 1997-98, 51-55.

Mayle, B.A. & Staines, B.W. (1998). An overview of methods for estimating the size of deer populations in Great Britain.  Population Ecology, Management and Welfare of Deer, Proceedings of a Symposium held in Manchester, April 1997.  Manchester Metropolitan University & Universities Federation for Animal Welfare, 19-31.

Mayle, B.A. (1996). Woodland deer management. Forestry and British Timber 25 (10), October 1996, 36-38.

Gregory, S., Evans, C. & Mayle, B.A. (1996). Bats about trees. AAIS Tree Damage Alert 27. Arboricultural Advisory and Information Service.  Tree Advice Trust, Farnham, Surrey.

Mayle, B.A., Doney, J., Lazarus, G., Peace, A.J. & Smith, O.E. (1996). Fallow deer (Dama dama) Defecation rate and its use in determining population size.  In Supplemento alle Ricerche di Biologia della Selvaggina, XXV 63-78.  Proceedings of International Conference 'Resources Utilization in Fallow Deer', Montepaldi, Italy, 20-22 June 1995.

Mayle, B.A. (1996). Progress in predictive management of deer populations in British woodlands. In 'Forest Ecology and Management' 88 (1-2), 187-198.

Mayle, B.A. (1994). Falling foul of fallow. Timber Grower, Autumn 1994, 34-36.

Mayle, B.A. (1992). Bats and trees. Arboriculture Research Note 89/92. WILD.

Ratcliffe, P.R. & Mayle, B.A. (1992). Roe deer biology and management. Forestry Commission Bulletin 105.  HMSO, London.

Mayle, B.A. (1992c). Fallow under scrutiny. Timber Grower 124, 20.

Mayle, B.A. & Pepper, H.W. (1992b). Too deer to guard? Foil'em by fencing! Deer Control II. Farmers Weekly, 14.02.92, 60-62.

Mayle, B.A. (1992a). How to spot the difference. Deer Control I. Farmers Weekly, 31.01.92, 52-55.

Walsh, A.L. & Mayle, B.A. (1991). Bat activity in different habitats in a mixed lowland woodland. Myotis 29, 97-104.

Mayle, B.A. & Gurnell, J. (1991). Edge management and small mammals. Edge Management in Woodlands. Ed. Ferris-Kaan, FC Occasional Paper 28, 432-449.

Mayle, B.A. (1990).  Meanwhile back at the bat cave. Forest Life No. 7, 8-9 March 1990.

Mayle, B.A. (1990).  Bats and trees. Arboriculture Research Note 89/90. WILD.

Mayle, B.A. (1990).  Habitat management for woodland bats. Forestry Commission Research Information Note 165, 4 pages.

Mayle, B.A. (1990).  A biological basis for bat conservation in British forests. Mammal Review 20(4), 159-195.

Non-Refereed publications: (e.g. conference abstracts)

Mayle, B.A. (1998). Predictive management of deer in British forests. Milne (ed). Recent Developments in Deer Biology 418-419.  Proceedings of the 3rd International Congress on the Biology of Deer. 28 August – 2 September 1994, Edinburgh.  Macaulay Land Use Research Institute. Aberdeen and Moredun Research Institute.

Mayle, B.A. (1995). Conference Organiser and Proceedings Editor. Muntjac deer, their biology, impact and management in Britain.  Proceedings of a Conference at New Hall, Cambridge, on Saturday, 9 October 1993. Forestry Commission.

Ratcliffe, P.R. and Mayle, B.A. (1994). An objective approach to roe deer management. Deer 9(3), 151-152.

Mayle, B.A. (1993). Bat activity in a mixed lowland woodland in relationship to insect prey availability. Isle of Wight Bat Detector Workshop Report. Ed. Gary Roberts, Bat Conservation Trust, pp 29-30.

Mayle, B.A. (1993). Fallow deer. Crondall Society Newsletter 41, Spring 1993, 14-15.

Mayle, B.A. (1992). Bat activity in a mixed lowland woodland in relationship to insect prey availability. Abstracts of 9th International Bat Research Conference, Madurai, India, 3-7 August 1992, 42 pages.