Bushy Park is a deer park. Red and Fallow
Deer still roam freely throughout the park, just as they did when Henry
VIII used to hunt here.
There are currently about 320 deer
and their grazing is essential to maintain the high wildlife value of
the park's grasslands. Unlike cutting, grazing creates more variation in
structure and plant diversity and does not damage the anthills, which
add further diversity and character to the grassland.
The herds are kept out of the Woodland Gardens and other protected
plantations in order to protect the trees and shrubs there. The Red Deer
are the largest mammal native to the British Isles and in the summer
their coats are glossy red. Fallow deer, introduced by the Romans, are
smaller and their summer coats, usually spotted, vary from a cream to
darkish brown colour.
During the autumn the deer 'rut' (breeding
season) takes place. The Red stags and Fallow bucks compete for females
(known as hinds and does respectively). At this time, the large males
roar, bark and clash antlers in a spectacular way in an attempt to fight
off rivals and attract as many females as possible. The young are born
May - July and are hidden by their mothers amongst the bracken and long
grass. The young are very vulnerable at this time and their mothers,
being sensitive to disturbance, will defend their babies.
[ https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/bushy-park/things-to-see-and-do/flora-and-fauna/deer-in-bushy-park]
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