Main picture: Richmond Park in the hot dry July 2026 Photo: Amanda Boardman
Warning as families seen petting ‘dangerous’ deer
Friends of Richmond Park volunteer Amanda Boardman is a regular visitor to Richmond Park – often taking photographs for our publications, including for this bulletin.
On Monday 13 July she saw families trying to stroke and feed the deer. She witnessed adults “thrusting their tiny children towards a group of young bucks with antlers”. Amanda said she had never seen behaviour in the park that bad.
Amanda provided her video to The Royal Parks helping ensure that the many media outlets that contacted her received from The Royal Parks the important messages on the need to keep distance from the deer.
Paul Richards, Park Manager, said he was shocked and extremely concerned by the footage and described the behaviour as deeply irresponsible and highly dangerous.
Preventing fires in Richmond Park
Sign near Sheen Gate July 2026
A reminder from The Royal Parks: “It only takes one falling ember onto dry grass to start a terrible fire, which can spread rapidly, pose a risk to life and devastate the environment, destroying wildlife and historic parkland.” Darren Share, Director of Parks at The Royal Parks.
Visitors to the Park can help. If you discover a fire, don’t hesitate: call 999 and ask for the fire brigade. Be ready to give an accurate location with the What3Words App which is used by all the emergency services.
Download the what3words app now: what3words /// The simplest way to talk about location
Clearing the Robin Hood deer gates
Photo: Stephen Russell
In early July the Friends Beverley Brook litter picking team cleared the gates at Robin Hood Gate. They filled 6 bags and removed 127 bottles and cans, 9 footballs and the usual assortment of debris and rubbish.
Coping with the heat
Jackdaw at Pembroke Lodge July 2026 Photo: Nigel Jackman
We are not alone in feeling the effects of the recent heatwaves. Birds have no sweat glands to cool down; instead they gape with their beaks wide open allowing moisture to evaporate from the mouth and throat as they pant, pulling heat away from the body. This jackdaw, pictured at Pembroke Lodge, was just one of many seen doing this last month. You might also see birds holding their wings drawn away from their bodies to release trapped heat or to press themselves against a cooler surface.
Richmond Park scores highly in the Green Flag awards
Richmond Park has achieved the highest possible overall score (80+) in this year’s Green Flag Awards. The Green Flag Award scheme recognises and rewards well managed parks and green spaces.
Congratulations to the Park Management team and it is also pleasing to see the inspectors’ praise of the role of The Friends of Richmond Park.