Bambi arrives in Bushy Park

Despite the bracken growing to head height recently, making deer sightings more difficult, Nordic Walkers in Bushy Park have had some great views of the deer.   Yesterday, while we were doing our warm-down stretches, a herd with some young trotted past, and then stopped to feed the fawns......

[Feeding time at the creche]

[Running with the herd]

[Learning to cross the road with Mum]

The stags are around, too, but tricky to see as they spend much of the time in the cool of the bracken, with sometimes only the tips of their antlers giving away their presence.

[Antlers in the bracken]

The high temperatures have meant the stags have sought out any shade available.  Their antlers still appear to be growing and still with a covering of velvet.

[More antlers than you can shake a stick at]

Fallow deer are smaller than red deer, and have white spots.  The stags also have smaller, but broader, antlers than the red deer stags.

Bushy Park has a couple of wooded areas which are fenced, so deer have not been able to graze on the trees.   The variety of trees and shrubs is very different from the general oaks, chestnuts, and limes found throughout the park.  There's several small lakes and streams here as well, making it a lovely place for a picnic - no interruptions from hungry deer.

[Nordic Walking in Woodland Gardens, Bushy Park.]

If you want to explore Bushy Park and get fit at the same time, please give me a call.

If you already walk, you might be interested in local events. This one, Walk Ten in Richmond Park, is to raise funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care, and allows you to enjoy a walk in the evening and then a picnic after the park has closed to most visitors.

http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/events/walking/Richmond+Park.htm

I'll look out for other such events and help you get fit so that you enjoy them.  The body I belong to, Nordic Walking UK, also has a Walk-finder facility.  I'm sure you'll find something to suit you.

http://www.nordicwalking.co.uk/findawalk

I'll be holding taster sessions on Saturday 10th and 31st July, so let me know if you wish to try the sport.

Peter
07703-404-931