June 16, Richmond-upon-Thames

Devoted the day to Richmond Park, advertised thusly:  

"Spend the day in the company of kestrels, fallow and red deer, and meadow butterflies. Richmond Park is a National Nature Reserve, a haven for rare or endangered species such as stag beetles, bats, and moths. The park is home to a variety of natural habitats, including ancient anthills that date back 150 years and an oak tree estimated to be 750 years old. The 600-strong herds of red and fallow deer have roamed the park since 1637, providing a unique connection to the park’s past.

If you’re into history, there’s plenty of it here. The park can trace its origins back to 1625, when Charles I brought his court to nearby Richmond Palace to escape the plague sweeping through London. He turned this landscape into a hunting park, filled with red and fallow deer. Amazingly, some of the trees that Charles would have ridden past still stand today."

Stag beetles, bats, and mothsI did not encounter, but am completely taken by the part about the anthills. And, ohmygod, the very trees past which the king, running from the plague, rode?  From such a factoid you could plotz!

My day in the park, what with all the ins and outs  added up to 15 miles.  Some of it was delightful; some was a slog.  When it got hot and there was not shade, and the scenery looked like this: 

it was a slog.

The park is HUGE, and a lot of it is quite lovely.  The best part, where I did not spend anywhere near enough time, was The Isabella Plantation, where someone, named Kev, whose Insta (as people seem to call it) I have but cannot find it on my phone, took this photo:

(For some reason, it evokes that  R.E.M song...."That's me in the corner..." Only really, that's me looking at my phone trying to figure out where I am)

The Isabella Plantation, really a park within a park, was spectacular.  I didn't even try to take any pictures, but look here if you want to get a sense of its prettiness.  What you cannot see from the pictures are the paths and ins and outs, which is what gives the growing things such charm.  Every twist and turn yields a new surprise.

Not in the Plantation—BTW, I am surprised that word hasn't been woked out of existence—but in the park proper was this structure, which, in East Rock Park, IS NO LONGER ALLOWED!  

As noted above, red deer are a big attraction in the park.  Take a look at those fab, velvety antlers!  Inter alia, they serve to scratch a hind leg 

It can't be easy to walk around carrying all that weight on your head.  Here is the Google scoop on antler function, which maybe everyone knows anyway, but it's been a slow newsday!

• Dominance and Mating:  Male deer, especially during the rut, engage in fights to determine which deer will have access to females for mating.(Ok, so does the winner get ALL the does?)

• Sparring and Rituals:  Deer fights often involve sparring with antlers and pushing matches to assess strength. (And the antler bashing makes a lot of noise, too.)
• Consequences of Losing:  The loser of a fight typically yields to the victor, retreating and avoiding further confrontation. (That's gotta sting.) 
• Potential Injuries:  While fights are often ritualistic, injuries like skull trauma, ruptured arteries, or gouges from antlers can occur, according to aboutdeer.com. (Oy!)
• Stress and Energy Expenditure:  Fighting is energetically costly and stressful for the deer involved. (One would think.)
• Continuing Challenges:  The dominant deer may still face challenges from other males, so they cannot rest on their laurels. (It's a hard knock life, really!)