Firstly, a big hello to everyone who’s joined in the last few weeks. As a quick intro, I’m John and I’m a London-based dad with two boys Jax (6) and Finn (5). Every fortnight we try to drag them out of the city and into the wild. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it really doesn’t.
Head Torches & Wine Gums
5am. The alarm pinged and two small boys stumbled out of their bunk beds, convinced it was still the middle of the night.
I’ve been wanting to take them to see the red deer rut for a long time. It runs from September to November, when mating season is in full swing, and Richmond Park is the place to see it.
You’re likely to come face to face with some incredibly horny and equally fierce stags. An ideal spectacle for two young boys with a tendency to wander off whenever the wellies are on and there are large sticks (their swords) to be found.
As a keen photographer, I’ve spent many hours trekking across Richmond Park before dawn, listening out for the (fairly intimidating) roars of stags gunning for a fight. So on Monday morning, the first day of half term, I was brave enough to bring the boys along.
The key to a successful trip? Get up early. Really early.
Bundled into the car with blankets, we made our way across south London, crept into the park through Kingston Gate and parked up at the Pembroke Lodge car park.
I knew the boys could walk a good distance (proven by their impressive multi-mile hikes in Switzerland over the summer). I also knew we might be walking for well over an hour before we came across our testosterone-filled subjects.
With our coat pockets full of jelly beans and wine gums, we started hiking into the darkness. I could tell the boys were excited. Strap a head torch to their foreheads and they literally think they’re Indiana Jones.
A Photographer’s Dream (With Two Small Problems)
We walked and walked. Nothing. Not even a roar.
But as the sun rose, I realised we’d accidentally caught almost perfect conditions for photography (the kind you get maybe one in ten visits). The mist was rising and golden light was creeping through the breaking clouds. I admit, a couple of times I cursed having the boys in tow. This was a wildlife photographer’s bloody dream!
Doubling down on my fatherly duties, we headed deeper into the park, buoyed by a surprising lack of moaning. I think they were enjoying themselves.
Then suddenly, our first deer. A doe and her fawn on the path ahead. It was still pretty dark, but we all took some pictures, the boys zooming in as far as their little cameras would go. (Those are the kids’ cameras from Fruugo I mentioned back in July. Still going strong.)
Our first encounter
Into The Bracken
As we headed towards Pen Ponds and the centre of the park, Finn spotted a large stag deep in the bracken. Into the undergrowth we marched, cameras at the ready. This was starting to feel like a proper photography expedition, even with a five- and six-year-old for company.
Camera at the ready
We didn’t get a clear sight of this stag, so we carried on. We were a couple of miles in by now. The light was just awesome, and at times I struggled to keep track of the boys as they danced off into the mist.
Marching into the morning mist
Heading east, I was keen to keep the sun ahead of us, hoping to capture a silhouette in the golden-hour light. But time was ticking and little legs were tiring. We perched on a bench and fuelled up on sugar, ready for one last search.
Stag Found. Son Lost.
And there he was. A few minutes later, a stunning stag, antlers aloft, framed by the sun against a clear background. I’m not going to lie, I sprinted into position with my camera, a good couple of hundred metres from the path. Jax followed, creeping behind me like a military commando. The photographs were simple but beautiful.
Backlit stag in the golden hour light
But where was Finn? I did a full 360 and he was nowhere to be seen. In full panic mode, I jogged back to the path and finally spotted him crouched in a bush, in floods of tears. He was terrified of the stag. Shaking with fear.
And I’d left him. Great parenting. (I made a mental note to leave that part out when Katrien asked how our morning was.)
A few cuddles (and a fair few wine gums) later, we were all friends again and on our way back to the car.
“Was There Loads Of Blood?”
On the way, we got chatting to one of the volunteer wardens. She spent ten minutes sharing horror stories about the accidents that happen at this time of year. Apparently someone was charged by a stag last week and ended up in Kingston Hospital with a punctured stomach.
I’m pretty sure she was trying to scare the boys into sticking to the path. It had the opposite effect. After they asked “Was there loads of blood?” for what must have been the fifth time, she soon took a sharp left.
Was It Worth It?
100%. It was honestly like being on safari, right in the heart of London.
We got lucky with the conditions, but the stags themselves are easy to find and wonderful to watch. A few practical tips:
It’s free. Richmond Park costs nothing to get into. We parked at Pembroke Lodge, which put us within easy walking distance of Pen Ponds and the open ground where the stags hang out.
Go early. Aim to be walking as the sun comes up for the best light, the most action and the fewest people. Check the Royal Parks website for gate opening times before you set off.
Little legs need to be up for it. Kids need to be able to walk comfortably for a good couple of hours. Bring snacks. Lots of snacks.
They’re wild animals. Stags in the rut are big, unpredictable and dangerous. Give them plenty of space, and keep the kids close (and definitely don’t leave them quaking in a bush).
Get in touch if you have any questions. We’ll be back before the rut is done.
What We’re Loving At The Moment
Yesterday we took a shorter trip to the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill. It’s completely free and full of totally bizarre oddities that kids love. It has over 350,000 objects across anthropology and natural history, and right now it’s also hosting the British Wildlife Photography Awards exhibition.
Home to the British Wildlife Photography Awards
Checking out the U11 category
I tried to inspire Jax and Finn by pointing them towards the young photographers’ awards. To be honest, they were much more interested in the aquarium!
The Horniman Aquarium
It’s a good morning out and well worth a visit during the school holidays.
A Royal Endorsement
I hope many of you saw the announcement from the Princess of Wales last week. She has commissioned The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood to examine how nature can support the healthy development of babies and young children.
The work will explore how nature-rich environments help children build the social and emotional skills linked to lifelong wellbeing.
I’m preaching to the choir here, obviously. But it’s exciting to see the benefits of kids being out in nature getting such high-profile attention. I’ll be following closely.
Photo Of The Fortnight
In March this year, Katrien surprised me with a birthday trip to the icy peaks of Dovrefjell National Park in Norway, to photograph Europe’s only wild herd of musk oxen. We teamed up with Oppdal Safari and spent hours lying on fur rugs dug into the ice, capturing some pretty cool images.
What’s Next?
Our half-term jail-break. 24 hours. Me and the boys. £100 budget.
Let’s see where we go and what wildlife we encounter! We’ll report back.