354
THE ESSEX NATURALIST
The Deer of Hatfield Forest
By Rosemary Carpenter
In the past eight years I have lived near Hatfield Forest, and
during this time have often watched Fallow Deer in the area of
the map that is between Leapers Lane and Thremhall Priory,
Bedlars Green and the Plain.
In autumn, these graceful creatures gather together to form
one large herd which through the winter and early spring, has
its base in the large glade just North of Hangmans Ride. It is
near this glade that there seems to be evidence of their sleeping
quarters (A). In this area barking of young trees is extensive, and
early in the morning there are numerous hollows of flattened grass.
It is during the winter that deer watching is most profitable.
One is almost certain to see them, early in the morning, feeding in
the glade and although they are relatively shy animals, if dis-
turbed but providing they are not thoroughly frightened, they
will not go very far into the thickets and can be fairly easily
stalked (although photographing is extremely difficult without a
telephoto lens). For instance, I have watched them from Hang-
mans Ride and after they have been disturbed, walked down the
next ride, only to see them again, although by this time they are
rather on their guard. One morning I did this three or four times
and on my way home saw them again, this time splitting two
does away from the herd. They just stood and looked at me
then ambled across the ride as if nothing had happened. If one
is successful in splitting the herd, one can usually get a good view
of them, as deer will do anything to get back to the main herd,
even running straight in front of their disturber.
Deer are very curious animals and like to know just what is
going on. They always seem to be attracted towards my dog and
many is the time they have come trotting towards him only to
see me in the background. They then usually stand perfectly still
for a moment or so, then disappear into the undergrowth so
silently one hardly realises they have gone.
During the hard winter of 1962-63 the deer became very bold
and quite openly raided the gardens which back towards the
Forest. They also stripped the bark from many of the young
trees, causing a great deal of damage. Against the snow, their
antlers, intelligent faces and slender necks showed up to perfec-
tion. The herd is definitely on the increase, and they have been
seen in the evenings almost up to the road.
In the early spring the deer tend to split up into smaller herds
of about eight or nine animals and scatter themselves throughout
the area and, of course, the does are carrying the young. At the
beginning of March 1964, I found a foetus near the entrance at
Beggars Hall (B). It was about 18 inches long, and obviously