Deer have returned to London’s Greenwich Park after four years away

With all the doom and gloom going on in the world, it’s nice to be able to deliver a bit of good news, especially when it pertains to something cute and cuddly. After four years away, deer have returned to Greenwich Park. Isn’t that lovely? 

From now, visitors will be able to fawn over the fallow deer in southeast London. They’ve returned after their sojourn to Richmond Park while their paddock was improved and extended, Greenwich Wire reported.

Herds of red deer were taken out of Greenwich Park in 2021 while work took place as part of the Greenwich Park Revealed project. The £12 million programme saw the construction of a new wildlife meadow and learning centre, aimed at helping locals to better connect with nature. 

The deer that were taken to Richmond have settled there, but a new herd of eight fallow deer was released on Wednesday, April 30. They have access to new woodland and are able to roam around a larger area. The made over paddock also has new fencing and wildflowers, while piles of logs were moved in that will allow scrub to regenerate so the deer can graze. Deadwood was also added to become a habitat for bugs and fungi. 

Clare Lanes, the park manager, told Greenwich Wire: ‘Everyone has missed the deer very much, and we’re excited to welcome them back to Greenwich Park. Over the past three years, we’ve been able to enhance the natural environment of the deer paddock, ensuring they have a rich, biodiverse habitat to return to.

‘At first, the deer may keep away from the viewing areas as they get used to and settle into their new environment. Once they become more comfortable, they will explore more of the space.’

It’s thought that deer were introduced to Greenwich by Henry VIII in the 16th century. They were allowed to roam free until 1927, and word has it that they were so tame they could be fed by hand. Increasing motor traffic meant they eventually had to be moved to a fenced-off enclosure. 

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