British Association for Counseling and Psychotherapy
Red and fallow deer in Richmond Park and the nearby Bushy Park are killed twice a year – alternating between males and females – to preserve the health of the herd as a whole. “As a result of the cull , the meat is sold to licensed game dealers and all the money is reinvested into caring for our herds.
80-130 deer
Sometimes the deer may be injured and some are even killed during the fights for supremacy. There are 2 culls in Richmond Park – the males in February and the females in November. In Bushy Park , however, the male cull takes place in September and the female cull in November.
Culling is a means of maintaining a deer population at an acceptable or agreed level, or reducing it to that level and holding it there. This must be done in a humane, responsible and sensitive manner.
Don’t take risks with rutting deer , The Royal Parks warns visitors. The Royal Parks is urging visitors to Bushy and Richmond Parks to be extra vigilant and keep a minimum distance of 50 metres away during the annual deer rut.
the Crown
Unless it’s in immediate danger, such as in the middle of the road, don’t touch it. A mother deer will reject her young if she picks up the human scent. 99% of the time the mother is very close by. ( If you are walking your dog, put it on a lead.)
The park was originally several distinct areas known as Hare Warren, Middle Park and Bushy Park , until the present boundaries were completed in 1620. The name “ Bushy Park ” was first recorded in 1604 and was probably a reference to the many hawthorn bushes.
approximately 2 – 2.5 hours
Grass snakes are present in the park and, although a population estimate has not been conducted, juveniles are seen regularly and they therefore breed well. Like all reptiles they are ‘cold blooded’ which means they cannot regulate their own body temperature.
Another good place to see the water fowl is at Heron Pond. Bushy Park , as well as Richmond Park , is famous for its wild deer which inhabit the park all year round and can be seen walking around freely.
A large volume of cyclists , observations of cyclists speeding or without helmets, fears of transmission through exhalation of air and excess burden on the NHS were amongst the key reasons that the Royal Parks made the decision to ban cyclists from Richmond Park , an FOI request reveals.
The more general problem is that removing some animals from a population creates more space and food for those that are left, and can disrupt social controls on breeding. Survival, reproduction and immigration all increase as a result, and the population quickly rebounds.
To cull animals means to kill the weaker animals in a group in order to reduce their numbers.
There are 2 culls in Richmond Park – the males in February and the females in November. The cull is necessary in order to maintain the number of deer in the park and prevent overgrazing which would ultimately result in starvation. Deer populations are actively managed to keep herds at a sustainable size.