A park which is a wildlife haven for nature lovers stretches over 1,000 acres of lush landscape and it's in one of the least likely areas of the country. While most people think of the hustle and bustle of London with endless traffic jams, people can escape for a moment of peace and quiet in Bushy Park and enjoy the ancient woodlands with its home to herds of wild deer.
Similarly scenes of free-roaming wild deer can also be seen in nearby Richmond Park and last year people living in Harold Hill in Havering, East London, even saw deer walking past their homes. Bushy Park in southwest London supports a diverse population of 320 red and fallow deer that graze freely, shaping the park's environment and preserving its acid grassland habitat. Visitors are advised to maintain a respectful distance from the deer, ideally around 50m, even though the deer might approach them out of curiosity.
But even if the deer don't approach, Bushy still makes for an idyllic walk in the festive season - especially if there's a bit of frost on the ground. As it happens, Bushy is also the best park in the UK in which to walk your dog. A park-goer shared their experience: "Went to see autumn deers (sic), just magnificent. Tried to keep our distance, but animals do not seem to care at all and keep just next to busy footpaths. The end of October is a wonderful time to see them.".
In addition to deer, you can spot herons and kingfishers in woodland pools, while the park's grasslands teem with grasshoppers, spiders, butterflies, and hedgehogs. But it's not all about the wildlife; Bushy Park also offers activities like the weekly Parkrun on Saturdays, a scenic 10km trail for avid runners, and sports facilities at the Bushy Park Sports Club where you can play tennis, football, or cricket.
