Deer

Introduced in May 2025, the new herd of eight fallow deer is the first in the park since 2021.

The previous herds of fallow and red deer were relocated to Richmond Park to ensure they were not disturbed by the renovation works in Greenwich Park. During this time, significant paddock habitat improvement took place, and construction work was delivered nearby to create exciting new community facilities, including the new Greenwich Park Learning Centre.

The improved paddock provides the deer with new access to nearby woodland, and the natural habitat has been enhanced with wildflower planting to support wildlife, including birds and pollinators. Log and brash piles have been placed around the paddock to allow areas for scrub to regenerate and provide natural sustainable grazing opportunities for the deer. Extensive repairs to the fencing ensure a protected and secure environment for the deer.

Overhanging deadwood has been removed and taken into the paddock to reduce the risk of it falling. It will now be a vital habitat for invertebrates and fungi.

The deer can be seen from two viewing points in the Flower Garden. 

The Deer Park

Fallow deer can now be seen in what is termed The Wilderness, a lightly wooded area, the remains of the East Wilderness laid out in the 17th century and now enclosed as the Deer Park.

Deer are said to have been introduced by Henry VIII in 1515 for hunting in a park that was then rough and full of trees and scrub. His hunting dogs were kept across the river on the Isle of Dogs. The deer roamed freely in Greenwich Park until 1927 when the increase in motor traffic and many more visitors led to them being shut in at weekends and then moved permanently to the Deer Park in the south east corner of the Park. 

The Park’s herds that were removed to Richmond Park are probably descended from the originals brought in by Henry VIII.

Management of the Deer in Greenwich Park

The management of the deer in the enclosure differs from management of deer in the wild.  A high fence has to surround the enclosure because the deer are capable of jumping up to eight feet.

In the wild, deer have different feeding patterns.  Here, fallow have been chosen both because they are close nibblers, and because they come up close to the wire. New trees have to be protected from nibbling. Unlike those in the wild, deer in the Park are fed throughout the year, with “deer nuts”, which are a made-up food containing proteins and minerals.  During October and November when they are putting on weight, root and green vegetables are added to their diet.

Whereas in the wild deer occur at two or three to the hectare, in the Park there are ten to twelve to the hectare. Numbers have to be controlled and the sex and age mixes are considered when culling.  A pyramid method is used to calculate how many young there should be, and the make-up of the family groups is considered.

Fallow Deer

Fallow deer can vary in colour from very dark brown to white. The tail has a black stripe running along its length. A young male fallow deer is called a ‘pricket’, a mature male a ‘buck’ and a female a ‘doe’.  Fallow deer live to between ten and twelve years of age, and the does can breed at 18 months of age, producing only single offspring or, very exceptionally, twins. The fallow fawns are born in May or June, weigh about 4.5kg, and are lightly spotted to provide good camouflage.

Fallow deer are smaller than red deer. The bucks measure 90 to 95 cm at the shoulder, the females 80 to 85 cm. Fallow deer  bucks weigh 70kg and the females about 45kg.
Fallow deer died out in this country during the Ice Age and were probably reintroduced by William the Conqueror in the 11th century. Keeping deer in parks was started by the Norman lords who wanted them for food and to look attractive.
The best fallow herd is found at Bushy Park, and sometimes young bloodstock is brought in from there.  Herd composition is managed with a view to achieving the best herd.  The prickets are left to develop for three or four years, then the best are picked out to stay on as bucks.  If there are too many bucks they would fight, and could die from internal bleeding after being stabbed by antlers.

Antlers

Antlers are made of bone not horn. They are shed and grown again every year, getting bigger as the animals mature. They start growing in June and have reached full size and hardened off by September, ahead of the rut in late October. They are cast between April and May.
The bone is quite tender when it is growing and looks as if it is covered in velvet. When the bone hardens after 12 to 16 weeks, the velvet falls off or is rubbed off on trees.
Re-growing antlers each year takes a great deal of energy so how well they grow indicates how well they have fed and their state of health.
Fallow deer have what is known as palmated antlers (they look like the palm of your hand) whereas red deer have antlers with points or tines (12 points is known as a ‘Royal’)
In the wild, male deer want to have as many females as they can in their family group (harem). The more females in the group, the better the chance the male has of passing on his genes in his offspring. Only one male has the opportunity to breed each year and he demonstrates his prowess by fighting off other males and impressing the females with his thick neck muscles and his deep repetitive bellowing in the rutting (mating) season.