Posted by Nick Hanson on October 15, 2009 at 6:18 PM
Hey,
I am thinking of taking a friend to photograph the red deer in Richmond on Sunday, and was wondering if someone could give advice on how to get there from say Central London.
I live in South East London so could go from London Bridge, or elsewhere where there is an easy route to the entrance to the part of the park where the deer are.
I will be there tomorrow around mid-day, just playing around really, but I am also intending to go back on Sunday.
If you want I can pick you and your friend up at say Richmond Station, take you to the Pen ponds car park and then take you back as and when. Just give me a time.
Send me an e-mail address to which I can send an attachment, as I have a jpeg map of the park, assuming you can find one on the net which suites.
If you do go, it might be an idea to take along some brown bread crumbs, and ground black pepper.
I am assuming public transport.... Pick up the District line to Richmond, from Richmond station turn to your left and carry on through the town and head up the hill this will bring you to one of the main entrances, quite a healthy walk too, beware first time I did it this way I was told the wrong way and walked for miles.... There is a PDF map on the Parks website, you will find Deer all through the park, most of us head to Pen Ponds Car parks as offering the better opportunities....
PS... You never let me know that you had moved down my way, you still mountain biking?
Trust you are keepping well
HTH
Phil
Posted by Mark Caton on October 16, 2009 at 6:45 AM
Just a pointer - I was there yesterday, and the deer were nearer the Richmond and Cambrian gates than the ponds.
Also, round about mid-day, they were sitting down - no action. And they become difficult to find!
Best for me was first thing, alternatively towards the end of the day. It was warm at mid-day yesterday (Thursday), which may have had a bearing. Couldn't believe it was mid-October!
The 371 bus will take you from the station to the Richmond Gate.
Due to an early morning hospital appointment yesterday, I didn’t get the Park till mid morning, so I decided to walk the area.
Nick, I don’t think walking in from Richmond is a good idea, it is quite a way to the main red deer herd, particularly with gear. To be realistic I would allow an hour to reach them with gear from Richmond gate.
Parking at the pen pond car park, I walked down to the pen ponds and up past the Leg of Mutton pond, at the top of the hill I turned right into the Saw Pit Plantation, this is where I saw my first Red Deer, there are two small herds in the woods, with a few of Fallow bucks. Emerging and overlooking the Flying Field I saw only one lone red laying up in the middle, in the distance there was a sizable heard of Fallow, they would be close to the road between Richmond and Roehampton gates. There is frequently a Kingfisher near the Roehampton gate, I diversify, back to the deer..
Returning to the pen Ponds car park, had a cup of coffee then set of in the opposite direction taking the path towards Prince Charles Spinney. Two hundred from the Burger van, there was a small heard of 10+ animals, the dominant stag is a good un, and the satellite stag isn’t bad either. Walking up past the Prince Charles Spinney, must be a 1 in 4 climb over soft ground, I disturbed a nice fallow and a couple of female Red’s. At the top bearing left past Gibbet’s Wood, is the main heard, there were 60+ female reds with this year’s young and a magnificent dominant male, I think it was Norfolk Boy, the dominant male from last year where he held court on the Flying Field.
In attendance were also at least 7 satellite males laying up. The heard was out in the open, thus allowing plenty of photographic opportunities. In Gibbets Wood there is a mix of adolescent Red, counted five, and fallow bucks, they were feeding on the fallen Horse Chestnuts.
Terefore I think the best starting point for the main herd, would be from the car park next to Broomfield Hill Wood.
Justin you ask about brown bread crumbs. As you know, Mark is right, it is best to shoot the deer at both ends of the day, which leaves the dead period around lunch time. If you are at the pen ponds car park then a good way to kill the time, is to photograph the Jackdaws in the leaf litter, and to encourage them in I use brown bread crumbs, brown doesn’t show up so much as white. I have a few perches squirreled away near at hand, just for further variety of shots. The dappled light under the Horse Chestnut trees, works well at the moment, even at mid day.
You know it isn’t a bad day out this time of year, to spend the morning in Richmond Park, then off to the London Wetlands centre for a good hot lunch, then spending the afternoon working the refuge, a particular favourite for me is the Wildside’s hide, something always turns up there
Justin you ask about brown bread crumbs. As you know, Mark is right, it is best to shoot the deer at both ends of the day, which leaves the dead period around lunch time. If you are at the pen ponds car park then a good way to kill the time, is to photograph the Jackdaws in the leaf litter, and to encourage them in I use brown bread crumbs, brown doesn’t show up so much as white.
It’s a good thing that I have a few more tricks up my sleeve. It’s always a good idea to have either a few wrinkles up your sleeve, or a backup plan in mind.
Discussion
8 repliesI am thinking of taking a friend to photograph the red deer in Richmond on Sunday, and was wondering if someone could give advice on how to get there from say Central London.
I live in South East London so could go from London Bridge, or elsewhere where there is an easy route to the entrance to the part of the park where the deer are.
Thanks,
Nick
If you want I can pick you and your friend up at say Richmond Station, take you to the Pen ponds car park and then take you back as and when. Just give me a time.
Send me an e-mail address to which I can send an attachment, as I have a jpeg map of the park, assuming you can find one on the net which suites.
If you do go, it might be an idea to take along some brown bread crumbs, and ground black pepper.
Neil
I am assuming public transport.... Pick up the District line to Richmond, from Richmond station turn to your left and carry on through the town and head up the hill this will bring you to one of the main entrances, quite a healthy walk too, beware first time I did it this way I was told the wrong way and walked for miles.... There is a PDF map on the Parks website, you will find Deer all through the park, most of us head to Pen Ponds Car parks as offering the better opportunities....
PS... You never let me know that you had moved down my way, you still mountain biking?
Trust you are keepping well
HTH
Phil
Also, round about mid-day, they were sitting down - no action. And they become difficult to find!
Best for me was first thing, alternatively towards the end of the day. It was warm at mid-day yesterday (Thursday), which may have had a bearing. Couldn't believe it was mid-October!
The 371 bus will take you from the station to the Richmond Gate.
Mark
What's that for?
Nick, I don’t think walking in from Richmond is a good idea, it is quite a way to the main red deer herd, particularly with gear. To be realistic I would allow an hour to reach them with gear from Richmond gate.
Parking at the pen pond car park, I walked down to the pen ponds and up past the Leg of Mutton pond, at the top of the hill I turned right into the Saw Pit Plantation, this is where I saw my first Red Deer, there are two small herds in the woods, with a few of Fallow bucks. Emerging and overlooking the Flying Field I saw only one lone red laying up in the middle, in the distance there was a sizable heard of Fallow, they would be close to the road between Richmond and Roehampton gates. There is frequently a Kingfisher near the Roehampton gate, I diversify, back to the deer..
Returning to the pen Ponds car park, had a cup of coffee then set of in the opposite direction taking the path towards Prince Charles Spinney. Two hundred from the Burger van, there was a small heard of 10+ animals, the dominant stag is a good un, and the satellite stag isn’t bad either. Walking up past the Prince Charles Spinney, must be a 1 in 4 climb over soft ground, I disturbed a nice fallow and a couple of female Red’s. At the top bearing left past Gibbet’s Wood, is the main heard, there were 60+ female reds with this year’s young and a magnificent dominant male, I think it was Norfolk Boy, the dominant male from last year where he held court on the Flying Field.
In attendance were also at least 7 satellite males laying up. The heard was out in the open, thus allowing plenty of photographic opportunities. In Gibbets Wood there is a mix of adolescent Red, counted five, and fallow bucks, they were feeding on the fallen Horse Chestnuts.
Terefore I think the best starting point for the main herd, would be from the car park next to Broomfield Hill Wood.
Justin you ask about brown bread crumbs. As you know, Mark is right, it is best to shoot the deer at both ends of the day, which leaves the dead period around lunch time. If you are at the pen ponds car park then a good way to kill the time, is to photograph the Jackdaws in the leaf litter, and to encourage them in I use brown bread crumbs, brown doesn’t show up so much as white. I have a few perches squirreled away near at hand, just for further variety of shots. The dappled light under the Horse Chestnut trees, works well at the moment, even at mid day.
You know it isn’t a bad day out this time of year, to spend the morning in Richmond Park, then off to the London Wetlands centre for a good hot lunch, then spending the afternoon working the refuge, a particular favourite for me is the Wildside’s hide, something always turns up there
Hope this helps Nick
Neil.
Thanks Neil. Must remember that one.
Your welcome.
It’s a good thing that I have a few more tricks up my sleeve. It’s always a good idea to have either a few wrinkles up your sleeve, or a backup plan in mind.
Neil