Map 3. Distribution of fallow deer in Essex, pre-1965.
Fallow deer were still present in the southern part of the Forest in 1963-1964,
tracks and droppings being seen on Ludgate Plain, Peartree Plain and Alm-
shouse Plain. One fallow deer even strayed into Leytonstone and was eventually
shot in Bush Wood, only 11 km from the City of London. At least 24 fallow deer
were killed in road accidents in and around Epping Forest in 1963-1964
(Chaplin & Chapman, 1963, 1966). By 1964, fallow deer had been recorded
from many areas to the north and west of the Forest. A fallow buck and two
does were seen at Hainault golf course having been disturbed by fox hounds.
In 1938, there was a herd of about 60 fallow deer in the Hatfield Forest area
and deer were considered to be present from there to Meesden, about 13 km
north-west of Bishop's Stortford. Fallow deer were certainly common at that
time in the north-west corner of the county on the borders with Hertfordshire,
the animals moving between Scales Park, Clavering Park Wood and High Wood
(Berry, 1938) just as they still do. Fallow deer were still numerous in Hatfield
Forest in the late 1950s - early 1960s (Carpenter, 1966).
A herd of about 20 fallow deer was reported to be damaging fruit trees at
Elsenham and Stansted Mountfitchet in 1952 (Whitehead, 1964). Fallow deer
first began to appear on the Easton Lodge estate, further to the east near Great
Dunmow, in the mid-1950s (Spurrier, personal communication). There were
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