The deer have lived on Fen Farm with Peter and Jane whose family have been farming the land at Horbling Fen for over 100 years. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horbling

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Since we have worked with Peter and Jane the skin is no longer wasted, honouring the deer's life by creating raw hide to make drum.

 

They are red deer (cervus elaphus), the largest native deer.  They go into the rut in September through to October, with calves being born late May/early June.  Calves grow quickly on the spring grass and stay with their mothers well into the winter, when they are weaned

 

Benny prepares all the rawhide himself

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one hide is used per drum working with the same