Deer return to Greenwich Park

The Royal Parks charity is celebrating the arrival of a new deer herd to Greenwich Park, welcoming them back to a renovated and extended deer paddock.

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 over the last four years 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 Royal Parks delivered these improvements via the Greenwich Park Revealed project to restore the park’s historic landscape, improve visitor facilities and provide new opportunities for the local community.

Clare Lanes, Greenwich Park Manager, The Royal Parks charity, said: 

"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."

The original herd has settled in Richmond Park and will remain there, avoiding the need for deer to undertake a return journey.

The Royal Parks staff have worked closely with a specialist deer vet from the British Deer Society. This vet is highly experienced in deer relocation and holds the required legal authority for this skilled work issued by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra). The welfare of the deer was paramount at every stage.

Greenwich Park Revealed has been a multi-year, £12 million project to protect, revive, reveal and future-proof the park, part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, for the local community and park visitors to discover and enjoy for decades.

The Royal Parks charity, which manages London’s eight Royal Parks, has funded the project alongside a £4.5m grant from the Parks for People programme joint financed by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund.