That deer might be roaming the streets of the capital seems bizarre and improbable. Yet there are growing signs that deer really are moving into London. There are regular sightings in the woods of Havering, Hillingdon, Bromley and Waltham Forest. There have even been reports of deer at Sydenham Hill Wood in Southwark and Tooting Bec Common in Wandsworth. While deer living in London might be a welcome sight, their arrival poses dilemmas over the damage they can do to woodland and gardens.

Appearance and behaviour  There are six types of deer living wild in the UK, including the red and bambi-like fallow deer. The species that is really moving into London is the muntjac, although fallow deer appear to be in Havering. Muntjac are the smallest of the wild deer. They have very small antlers and a glossy red-brown coat with some white patches on their thighs. Their most distinctive feature is the pair of "tusks" (in reality, long canine teeth) which stick out from below their upper lip. They are small, secretive, solitary creatures which can easily live in an area unnoticed.

Wild facts  The deer population has grown rapidly in the countryside in recent decades. No one is sure why, but it may be because they do not have any real predators in the UK. The rising numbers have led to concern by foresters, farmers and conservationists about the potential damage which they can do. Muntjac were introduced from China in the nineteenth century and escaped from Woburn Park in the 1920s. Muntjac have probably been able to colonise the outskirts of London because they can eat a variety of food and only need very small woodlands in which to survive. Bramble is ideal for them to both eat and hide in. They also eat roses, ivy, honeysuckle, clematis, peas, beans and even bluebells. Even a small herd can make it very difficult for woodlands to be managed in the best way for wildlife. The traditional way of managing woods in England is by coppicing. Deer have made it increasingly difficult to manage woodland in this traditional way because they eat re-growing coppice shoots, resulting in the eventual death of the tree. Muntjac also eat the flowering stems of bluebells and are thought to be responsible for their decline in some woodlands.

Living with deer  People living on the outskirts of London may find that muntjac are visiting their gardens. You may notice that your favourite honeysuckle or clematis is being nibbled, but it may be months before you catch sight of the shy and retiring muntjac which is responsible. If you find that your garden is being raided by deer and that the damage is unacceptable, London Wildlife Trust recommends that you examine the boundary fence to your garden and ensure that it is secure. Standard 2m forest lap fencing is usually sufficient to deter deer.

Culling  Many people believe that the only way to control deer when they become a problem in woodlands is to cull them. This is a highly controversial issue and one which can divide conservationists. London Wildlife Trust regards the threats posed by deer to our woodlands to be a potentially significant one. However, not enough is known about how many deer actually live in London or whether they are causing significant damage. We would therefore not recommend a policy of culling deer in the capital at this stage.