Outcry after Parents Let Children Stroke Richmond Park Stags
Royal Parks describes actions as 'deeply irresponsible and highly dangerous'
Small children were allowed to approach the potentially dangerous animals. Picture: Amanda Boardman/Twitter
July 14, 2026
Footage of parents allowing young children to approach and stroke stags in Richmond Park has prompted alarm from park managers and renewed criticism from regular visitors who say dangerous behaviour has increased since the abolition of the Parks Police service.
The video, taken on Sunday 12 July by local photographer Amanda Boardman, shows adults crowding around a group of deer while small children reach out to touch the animals. Ms Boardman, a long-time visitor to the park, said the incident was part of a wider pattern of rule-breaking, including people riding e-bikes through skylark nesting grounds and chasing deer across the grassland.
Royal Parks issued a strongly worded statement after the footage circulated on social media, describing the behaviour as “deeply irresponsible and highly dangerous.” Paul Richards, Park Manager for Richmond Park, said staff were “shocked and extremely concerned” by what the video showed.
“This deeply irresponsible and highly dangerous behaviour will cause the deer stress and create a serious risk of a tragic accident resulting in life-changing injuries or, in the worst case, a fatal incident,” he said. “Richmond Park’s red and fallow deer are wild, powerful animals. Although they may appear calm, they can react suddenly and aggressively if they feel threatened.”
Stags can weigh more than 25 stone and reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour. Park managers warn that even seemingly placid animals can become dangerous if approached, especially during the rutting season or when protecting young.
Richards urged parents to keep children well away from deer at all times. “Visitors should always stay at least 50 metres away – or further if the deer are moving – and never approach them for photographs or selfies,” he said. “The deer are one of the park’s most iconic and valued features. But please – keep yourself, your families, and others safe, by giving deer the space they need.”
Richmond Park is a National Nature Reserve and home to more than 630 red and fallow deer, which have roamed freely since 1637. Their grazing is essential to the park’s ecology, maintaining the nationally important acid grassland and preserving the sweeping views that define the landscape. Deer browsing prevents tree seedlings from taking hold and protects the park’s 400,000 anthills, creating a habitat that cannot be replicated by mowing.
Ms Boardman said the incident she filmed was not isolated, and that the absence of the former Parks Police service has left the park more vulnerable to rule-breaking. She pointed to e-bike riders disturbing skylark nesting grounds and people chasing deer for photographs as examples of behaviour that has become more common.
Royal Parks continues to urge visitors to follow deer safety guidance and respect the park’s protected habitats. With summer crowds increasing and wildlife under pressure, staff and regular visitors alike say the message is simple: enjoy the park, but keep your distance.
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