Richmond Park where the deer (but no antelope) play!

Beverley Brook, Richmond Park

 I've been looking at the history of Richmond Park, a park I have visited all my life. Years ago, I took part in a sponsored ten mile walk around it for the World Wildlife Fund. My dad took us there regularly when me and brother were growing up. I've been there with friends, on my own and with my own children. 

Richmond Park has a long history, at least 800 years. It was the hunting ground for Kings in the past and the royal connection goes back to 1200 when it was called The Manor of Sheen. I learned about the origin of Pembroke Lodge, built in 1754 and which began life as the house of a mole catcher! These days it is a lovely cafe with beautiful views from its position high up. Another article worth looking at is this as it goes into more detail, has photos from the past, including a painting of a family picnic in the park by Wiliam Frederick Witherington. 

Over 630 red and fallow deer wander around Richmond Park, and have since 1637. You would think you would see them often, but they hide away and over

the years I haven't seen them that many times close up. Driving around the park, you sometimes see them in groups close to the road. To learn more about the deer do read this. It also explains about culling. I hate the thought of that, but the article goes into detail about other options and why they don't work for deer.

On Friday my son drove me to Richmond Park with Rue. We parked near the Roehampton Gate where we had not stopped before (though I have walked part of this section to Pen Ponds when I walked a section of Capital Ring earlier in the year). And yes, we saw deer!

We quickly put Rue on the lead. We stood and watched them cross in front of us. Majestic beasts. One was wary and trying to keep the group together. There is always one straggler who has other ideas, but he got the group together eventually. We both took tons of photos, as they were so close to us. We'd first seen them in the distance and I thought that was the nearest they would come, but they must be used to people after all these years. But it is good to be wary of them because they are wild animals and this is their home.

I remember years ago, the deer would come into the car parks and people would try and feed them. They came within touching distance. But the public are discouraged from feeding the deer or getting closer than 50m distance from them. Dogs have to be on leads in the areas they mostly use and at times of rutting (around October) and birth (which is in May).

So, we got our photos and I was thrilled to see the deer so close to us.