Members of the public are urged not to approach the deer with serious incidents happening
The East London neighbourhood where wild deer roam free
A herd of deer known to explore freely through an East London neighbourhood now appear “pretty domesticated” to residents and have even started eating from their hands. Charlotte Hart, 31, has become accustomed to seeing wild deer in her garden in Harold Wood.
A video filmed on September 12 shows her boyfriend, Callum Cunningham, 31, feeding the deer celery which MyLondon would not encourage other people to try as Harold Hill Deer Aid has urged people to leave the wild animals alone. Charlotte said: “The deer have been in the area for a while now, so they seem pretty domesticated and not shy at all. They were in the garden already eating the bush at the front so Callum ran out with the celery.”
It is not a new phenomenon for wild deer to roam free through Harold Wood and neighbouring Harold Hill, both in the borough of Havering. Their frequent appearances have even prompted the installation of a warning sign on the A12 to alert drivers to take extra care.
Charlotte added: “They have come every few weeks for the last year. Most of the time they go into people’s front gardens eating the shrubbery or the back gardens if they can get access.”
Drivers from outside the area are often left amazed at witnessing such a crossover of nature and urban life. “It’s crazy, the deer will come right up to your front door,” Harold Hill mum, Julie, previously told MyLondon. “I think it’s lovely, and is probably the best thing about the area. You can see their droppings everywhere.”
How deer came to roam London streets
The answer lies in Dagnam Park, which is sandwiched between Harold Hill and the M25. This area forms part of The Manor Nature Reserve, an area of ancient woodland home to a herd of fallow deer. It’s from here the animals venture down into nearby neighbourhoods.
Despite the area’s strange reputation, local environment groups have warned against visiting for a chance to see the deer. Harold Hill Deer Aid said in 2021 it receives 30 calls a day concerning people feeding them the wrong foods, or others chasing after them.
Following an influx of visitors during the Covid pandemic lockdown, a spokesperson said: “This last year has been a nightmare with the influx of ‘visitors’ coming from all different areas and [it] has started to resemble a circus [with] increased accidents and injuries to our deer.
“We strongly urge people NOT to come to the area, not to feed them and to please leave the deer alone if they walk or run away from you and not to chase after them ‘just for a photo’ as this can and has had serious consequences in the past.”
A report published by the charity earlier in 2025 revealed 206 deer have been killed in road traffic accidents across the Harold Hill area.
Keep up with the latest East London news. Sign up to our MyEastLondon newsletter HERE for daily updates and more.
