skip to main content
The Royal Parks web site uses cookies. By browsing you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Read our cookie policy
  • Home
  • Royal Parks
  • Support
  • Media Centre
  • Careers
  • Shop
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • searchsearch
The Royal Parks menu
  • Visitor information
    • The parks after lockdown
    • Opening times and getting here
    • Visitor Centre
    • Volunteer Rangers
    • Oak Processionary Moth
    • Tick bites and Lyme Disease
    • Park regulations, legislation and policies
    • Accessibility information
    • Contact Bushy Park
  • Map of Bushy Park
  • Deer safety
  • Nature
    • Wildlife
    • Trees
    • Grasses and Wildflowers
    • Water features
    • Waterhouse Woodland Gardens
    • Conservation
  • History
    • Diana Fountain
    • Upper Lodge Water Gardens and Brew House
    • Bushy Park in World War Two
    • National Physical Laboratory
  • Food and drink
    • Pheasantry Cafe
    • Diana car park kiosk
  • Recreation
    • Upcoming events in Bushy Park
    • Bushy Park Playground
    • Sport in Bushy Park
  • Latest News
    • Sign up to the Bushy Park newsletter
    • Update on parking charge proposals
    • Weather station data
  • Donate
searchSearch
  • The Royal Parks
  • Visitor information
    arrow_drop_down
    • The parks after lockdown
    • Opening times and getting here
    • Visitor Centre
    • Volunteer Rangers
    • Oak Processionary Moth
    • Tick bites and Lyme Disease
    • Park regulations, legislation and policies
    • Accessibility information
    • Contact Bushy Park
  • Map of Bushy Park
  • Deer safety
  • Nature
    arrow_drop_down
    • Wildlife
    • Trees
    • Grasses and Wildflowers
    • Water features
    • Waterhouse Woodland Gardens
    • Conservation
  • History
    arrow_drop_down
    • Diana Fountain
    • Upper Lodge Water Gardens and Brew House
    • Bushy Park in World War Two
    • National Physical Laboratory
  • Food and drink
    arrow_drop_down
    • Pheasantry Cafe
    • Diana car park kiosk
  • Recreation
    arrow_drop_down
    • Upcoming events in Bushy Park
    • Bushy Park Playground
    • Sport in Bushy Park
  • Latest News
    arrow_drop_down
    • Sign up to the Bushy Park newsletter
    • Update on parking charge proposals
    • Weather station data
  •  
  • Donate
    • Home
    • Royal Parks
    • Support
    • Media Centre
    • Careers
    • Shop
    • About us
    • Contact us
  • Bushy Park
  • 
  • Latest News
  • 

Bushy Park Diary – September 2018

Published Tuesday 4 September 2018

Bushy Park – September 2018 Diary

Deer rut – advice for walkers

The stags and bucks now sport fully-grown antlers. They may be seen thrashing them about in the vegetation to build up their neck muscles, as towards the end of the month they will start establishing territories for the rut.

The deer also indulge in dust wallows to assist the shedding of their summer coats as their winter ones grow through. They are vulnerable to disturbance during the rut and the large number of spectators can affect them.

Recently the numbers of owners choosing to walk their dogs in Bushy Park has increased considerably. Deer can feel threatened by dogs even over long distances and when the dog is not behaving in a provocative manner. This is particularly so during the rutting (September – October) and the birthing (May – July) seasons. We recommend walking your dog outside the Park at these times.

If you choose, at your own risk, to walk your dog in the Park at these times, it is advisable to keep your dog on a lead and consider an alternative route, such as following the wall line of the Park, close to exit gates.

Dog Fouling

Dog waste left in the park is unpleasant for other park users, unhygienic and causes serious ecological damage to plant life and animal communities. It is an offence under The Royal Parks Regulations to fail to clean up after your dog including within the areas of long grass. Dog waste should be placed in a tightly sealed bag and taken home or deposited in the marked dog waste bins. Anyone failing to clean up after their dog may face prosecution.

Bird News

Migration is now in full flow with those summer visitors that have nested further north in the United Kingdom now being joined by others from Northern Europe. The chances of seeing Common Swift, one of our shortest staying summer visitors becomes very difficult. The early mornings or evenings are the best times as this is when birds may be at the end of the day head towards water bodies, this could be the nearby reservoirs or may be the Diana Fountain or nearby ponds as this is where they will feeding on an abundance of flying insects. This autumn the migration has been taking place but the numbers of migrants involved is lower than most years. This is because there hasn’t been a wind with an “E” in. We need the direction to come from the northeast down to southeast, that way birds will be pushed across the North Sea. The early part of the month also offers an opportunity to see Spotted Flycatcher; a once regular park breeder, this species has become much harder to see. If you are walking on the western side of the park near River Lodge or along Dukes Head Passage keep an eye out for our 3 Hobby chicks. They bred nearby and the parents are training them by passing food to them in mid air. This also shows the young the types of food to hunt for.

For more bird news check out www.regentsparkbirds.blogspot.com it also covers sightings from Bushy Park - By Tony Duckett

The Woodland Gardens

This month the streams will have a cut back and tidy up, The wildflower meadow areas will be mown and plans will be drawn up for the car park re-planting which is being funded by the Friends of Bushy and Home Parks.

The volunteers have been starting to clear the banks of self seeded saplings and brambles from the stream leading out of the Waterhouse pond towards Roaring Arch. This in preparation to plant up with a selection of flowering and autumn colour shrubs.

The Gardeners have got on top of the weeding in the Pheasantry and are now working in the Bog Garden area preparing areas for this winters planting



  • Bushy Park
  • Wildlife

Help us improve our website by providing your feedback.

Website user survey

close

search
Explore the Royal Parks
  • Hyde Park
  • Kensington Gardens
  • Richmond Park
  • Bushy Park
  • St James's Park
  • The Green Park
  • The Regent's Park and Primrose Hill
  • Greenwich Park
  • Greenwich Park Revealed - Park Restoration Project
  • Brompton Cemetery
  • Victoria Tower Gardens
  • Grosvenor Square Garden
Support the parks
  • Make a donation
  • Give a significant gift 
  • Leave a gift in your Will 
  • Run, cycle or swim for the parks
  • Hire The LookOut, Hyde Park
  • Become a partner
  • Corporate volunteering
  • Tributes in your local park
Media Centre
  • Press Releases
  • Royal Parks News Permit
  • Filming and photography
  • Royal Parks Image Library
  • News Archive
  • Trooping the Colour media accreditation
About us
  • Who we are
  • What we do
  • Procurement
  • Partner organisations
  • Publications
  • Friends of The Royal Parks
  • Contact us
  • Modern Slavery Statement
Connect with us
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Instagram
Watch our videos on YouTube
The Royal Parks

The Royal Parks is a registered charity (No. 1172042) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England & Wales no. 10016100 (VAT No. 261 4640 19)

Copyright © The Royal Parks 2016-2022 | Head Office: The Old Police House, Hyde Park, London. W2 2UHTerms & Conditions | Privacy Policy

close

Subscribe to our eNewsletter today

Be the first to hear our latest news and read about upcoming events, learning and volunteering opportunities, fundraising and park improvement projects when you sign up to our mailing list.

Aerial view of Regents