RICHMOND PARK

The largest of the capital's eight Royal Parks and the biggest enclosed space in London.

This is Richmond Park.

The park is a National Nature Reserve, London's largest Site of Special Scientific Interest and a European Special Area of Conservation.

It is home to the beautiful Isabella Plantation, Pembroke Lodge and herds of Red and Fallow deer.

The royal connections to this park probably go back further than any of the others, beginning with Edward (1272-1307), when the area was known as the Manor of Sheen.
The name was changed to Richmond during Henry VII's reign.

The deer have played a major role in the park's history and have shaped the landscape too.

The special grassland habitat depends on grazing and the parkland trees have a distinctive 'browse line' as the deer eat all the leaves and twigs growing below about 1.5 metres. Deer grazing also prevents tree seedlings from growing, keeping the grassland open.

During the autumn the deer 'rut' (breeding season) takes place. The Red stags and Fallow bucks compete for females (known as hinds and does respectively). At this time, the large males roar, bark and clash antlers in a spectacular way in an attempt to fight off rivals and attract as many females as possible.