Richmond Park’s deer nursery: where your children can’t walk this summer.
Every May, parts of Richmond and Bushy Parks transform into off-limits maternity wards. The Royal Parks close sections of woodland and bracken where red and fallow deer give birth, which means some of your usual family routes will be cordoned off until the fawns can stand reliably on their own legs.
Deer birthing season runs from May through to the end of July across both parks, with the heaviest activity in June.
Why sections close during fawning season
Newborn fawns lie motionless in long grass for their first few weeks, relying on camouflage rather than flight.
The mother deer leaves her offspring alone for hours at a time, returning only to nurse. A well-meaning dog walker or curious child can easily stumble across a fawn that appears abandoned but is simply waiting. Human scent or disturbance can cause the mother to reject the young, or prompt the fawn to bolt before it is strong enough to evade traffic or predators. The Royal Parks fence off the densest birthing areas to keep that risk low. You will see temporary barriers and signs asking you to keep dogs on leads throughout the parks, even in areas that remain open.
The closures are not about inconvenience; they are about giving around 650 deer in Richmond Park and 300 in Bushy Park the quiet they need to raise the next generation.
What stays open and where to take the children instead
The closures are targeted, not park-wide.
Pembroke Lodge gardens, the Tamsin Trail, and most of the open grassland in Richmond Park remain accessible. In Bushy Park, the Woodland Gardens, Diana Fountain, and the main avenue stay open. You can still picnic, cycle on designated paths, and let children run on the majority of the grass. What changes is access to the deeper bracken zones and certain wooded pockets where does prefer to give birth. The Royal Parks website and on-site maps show which sections are fenced each year; the pattern shifts slightly depending on where the herds settle. If your usual route is blocked, the perimeter paths offer reliable alternatives, and the open viewpoints near King Henry’s Mound or the Isabella Plantation car park give children a chance to spot deer from a safe distance.
Planning a visit around the closures is straightforward once you know which corners to avoid for a few weeks.
What this means for you
Check the Royal Parks website or the park noticeboards before you set out with children in May, June, or July. If your planned route is closed, have a backup loop in mind that keeps to the main paths and open grass. Keep dogs on leads across both parks during this period, even if your dog is normally reliable; the fines for letting them run loose near deer are enforced, and a loose dog can scatter a herd or injure a hidden fawn. If your child finds a fawn lying alone, leave it exactly where it is and move on quietly. The mother is almost certainly nearby. Report any injured deer to the Royal Parks patrol, not by approaching the animal yourself. Most closures lift by late July, and you will have full access again before the summer holidays end.
Deer birthing season asks families to adjust their routes for a few months, but it does not stop you enjoying either park. A little advance planning keeps your walks smooth and gives Richmond’s deer the space they need to thrive.
For families who walk the same loop every Sunday or cycle through on the school run, a suddenly fenced area can feel like losing a slice of your routine. The closures are temporary, but they do shift where you can and cannot go for a few months.
Frequently asked questions
When exactly do the closures start and end?
Closures typically begin in early May and lift by the end of July, with the peak fawning period in June. The Royal Parks announce specific dates each year, and you will see signs and fencing go up a few days before sections close.
Can I still walk my dog in Richmond Park during deer birthing season?
Yes, but dogs must be kept on leads across the entire park from May through July. Off-lead dogs risk disturbing fawns, scattering herds, and can be chased or injured by protective mothers. The rule is enforced, and rangers do issue fines.
What should I do if my child finds a fawn lying in the grass?
Leave it alone and walk away quietly. Fawns lie still by instinct and are not abandoned. The mother returns several times a day to nurse. Touching or moving a fawn can cause the mother to reject it. If the fawn appears injured, contact the Royal Parks patrol rather than approaching it yourself.
Are there parts of the parks where we can still see deer safely during fawning season?
Yes. Open grassland and the main viewpoints, such as King Henry’s Mound in Richmond Park or the avenue near the Diana Fountain in Bushy Park, let you watch deer from a distance without entering closed zones. Early morning and late afternoon offer the best sightings.
