Public urged to stay away from deer in Richmond Park after 'deeply irresponsible' parents let children stroke animals

Published: 12:29, 14 July 2026 | Updated: 12:48, 14 July 2026 Visitors have been urged to steer clear of deer in Richmond Park after 'concerning' footage showed parents 'thrusting' their children towards the antlered animals. Parkgoers were seen crowding the young bucks over the weekend and even stroking them - despite warnings to stay at least 50m away. In a video uploaded to social media, Amanda Boardman, a regular visitor to the park, said she had 'never seen it this bad'. In the clip, parents appear to be encouraging their children to get closer to the deer. One man even stretches out a little boy's hand so he can pet an animal on its head. Elsewhere, a girl feeds the deer while a woman stands nearby, filming the spectacle on her mobile phone. Ms Boardman said: 'Several people rode Forest bikes through the protected skylark nesting area, herding the deer, while others were feeding them. 'I also witnessed adults thrusting their tiny children towards a group of young bucks with antlers. It was incredibly dangerous. Parkgoers were seen crowding the young bucks over the weekend and even stroking them - despite warnings to stay at least 50m away A girl feeds the deer while a woman stands nearby, filming the spectacle on her mobile phone One man even stretches out a little boy's hand so he can pet an animal on its head 'Summer brings huge pressure on the park, with many visitors unaware of the rules. Habituating deer to people puts both the animals and the public at risk.' She went on to express her sympathy for park bosses who are 'tasked with protecting its wildlife and habitats while also educating visitors about the 50m rule'. Richmond Park manager Paul Richards said he was 'shocked and extremely concerned by the footage'. He added: 'This is deeply irresponsible and creates a serious risk of a tragic accident resulting in life-changing injuries or, in the worst case, a fatal incident. 'Although they may appear calm, they can react suddenly and aggressively if they feel threatened. Stags can weigh more than 25 stone and run at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour, making them highly dangerous if visitors get too close.' Mr Richards went on to urge parents and carers to keep children 'well away from the deer at all times' and never allow them to approach or interact with the 'iconic' animals. Richmond Park covers 2,500 acres and is one of London's eight Royal Parks - home to ancient trees, herds of deer and the Isabella Plantation. The Friends of Richmond Park said in a statement: 'The Friends of Richmond Park is saddened to learn of a dangerous incident involving members of the public getting far too close to the Park's deer over the weekend.' View this post on Instagram View this post on Instagram View this post on Instagram Read More Tourists have a rose-tinted view of this Surrey town - but the traffic's hell and the people snooty In one video filmed last year a man watches two deer as they engage in a physical fight with their antlers. He is then forced to stop filming and run away as one of the animals charges towards him. In another, an influencer casually stands amid the deer as they graze on the grass in the sun. A third clip shows a man saying he is 'scared' as he feeds the deer raw carrots. In 2025, the Met Police announced it was disbanding the Royal Parks Police as part of cuts due to a £260million hole in its budget.  The leader of Richmond Council, Gareth Roberts, said at the time: 'The Royal Parks Police provide a vital service, ensuring our parks remain safe and well-managed.  'Their work includes enforcing park regulations and responding to incidents quickly and effectively. Losing this specialist team places an additional burden on already overstretched local policing resources and risks leaving our parks unprotected. 'Our parks are essential for residents' health and wellbeing. They must remain safe, and we will continue to push for the resources needed to protect them.'