In particular, the branches and trunks of young fruit trees are often nibbled on by deer and fallow deer as a special treat, which may lead to the young trees dying due to the injuries they sustained. A protective fence can help, but is not always allowed for legal reasons.
Can you fence in an orchard?
A meadow orchard in your own garden can be fenced in, but for areas in outdoor areas such as arable or green areas you need a permit from the lower nature conservation authority or the building authority. Natural boundaries such as hedges are usually permitted.
Apply for a special permit from the lower nature conservation authority
If you are planning an orchard on your own garden property, you can definitely fence it in - provided you do not want to apply for funding for it. You only need an official permit to fence off properties on outdoor areas (e.g. arable land or green areas), which is issued either by the lower nature conservation authority or by the building authority. However, obtaining this approval is not easy: your application will usually be rejected. Particularly if you have your project funded with state, federal or EU funds, the property must remain publicly accessible.
Tips & Tricks
Although solid fences must be approved, natural boundaries such as hedges or planted hills are usually feasible and offer sufficient protection from thieving game (and also from thieving fellow human beings).
