Fallows In The Stubble

We spotted quite a large herd of wild fallow deer in the stubble on our walk at Lodge Farm. These deer were introduced by the Normans. In 1612, the Danish Ambassador to England presented King James I with a number of melanistic (dark) fallow deer from Denmark. Introduced to Epping Forest, it is thought these deer interbred with the local deer population to produce the dark fallow. 


I've added an image of Jack heron to extras. He took off from the gum tree this morning squawking at us and shitepoking. Shitepoke is a nickname for herons as they have a habit of defecating when disturbed.