Deer Park
The 3,000 acre deer park is a wonderful place to drive or walk through on the public designated footpaths, at any time of the year, with its vistas changing throughout the seasons. The deer park is home to nine species of deer, the Red Deer and Fallow Deer which are native to Britain along with seven other species, originating from Asia.
Spot 9 Species of Deer
As well as our famous Pere David’s Deer, keep an eye out for Sika, Axis or Chital Deer or the Barasingha who graze in the area around Paris House (which is not a public area) restaurant and the rare and shy Rusa Deer. You may also see small Muntjac and Chinese Water Deer roaming individually.
Find out more about the deer you can see at Woburn by clicking the images below.
Chinese Water Deer
Origin: Introduced to the Deer Park at Woburn in the early 20th century by the 11th Duke of Bedford.
Colour: Fawn.
Distribution: Woburn Park and surrounding countryside. Endangered in their native China.
Special Features: No antlers, bucks carry sharp tusks 2"-3" long, these deer are usually seen singly.
Rutting Season: December, fawns born in May and June, twins are common.
Barasingha or Swamp Deer
Origin: Introduced to the Deer Park at Woburn in the early 20th century by 11th Duke of Bedford.
Colour: Golden-brown in summer and ginger-brown in winter.
Distribution: Woburn Park and Zoos.
Special Features: Large bat-shaped ears.
Rutting Season: August and September, calves born in May and June.
Axis or Chital Deer
Origin: Introduced to the Deer Park at Woburn in the early 20th century by 11th Duke of Bedford.
Colour: Upper part of body bright reddish-fawn with white spots. A prominent white patch on throat.
Distribution: Woburn Park and Zoos, none wild in the UK.
Special Features: Antlers are normally six-pointed.
Rutting Season: No fixed season but most calves born March to April.
Fallow Deer
Origin: Introduced by the Romans.
Colour: Seven main colour types from white through to varying shades of brown to black, also spotted. Fawns spotted.
Distribution: Throughout England.
Special Features: Very timid, bucks' antlers are palmated.
Rutting Season: October and November, fawns born in June and July.
Manchurian Sika Deer
Origin: Introduced to the Deer Park at Woburn by the 11th Duke of Bedford.
Colour: Rich chestnut with spots in summer, uniform deep brown in winter.
Distribution: Woburn Park and Zoos, none wild in the UK.
Special Features: Large white patch on rump (Caudal disc). These hairs are erected as a danger signal showing a larger area of white.
Rutting Season: Late October, calves born in July.
Muntjac
Origin: Introduced to the Deer Park at Woburn by the 11th Duke of Bedford to Woburn. Also introduced to other collections at the same time.
Colour: Deep chestnut.
Distribution: Woburn Park, Whipsnade and surrounding countryside. Also found in other areas of the UK where they escaped from parks and private collections.
Special Features: Bucks have tusks and antlers. Also called 'Barking Deer'. Those at Woburn are a cross between Reeves (Chinese) and Indian Muntjac.
Rutting Season: No fixed season.
Pere David's Deer
Origin: Named after the missionary Pere Davd, sent back to China in 1985. Introduced to the Deer Park at Woburn in 1893.
Colour: Dun, with a black stripe down the spine.
Distribution: Woburn Park and Zoos, free roaming herd now in the Hubei Shishou Milu National Nature Reserve.
Special Features: Has an unusually long tail. The hooves make a clicking noise when walking.
Rutting Season: June and July, calves born in April and May.
Rusa Deer
Origin: Introduced to the Deer Park at Woburn by the 11th Duke of Bedford.
Colour: Reddish-brown.
Distribution: Woburn Park only.
Special Features: Stags develop a mane in winter, these deer have a very inquisitive nature.
Rutting Season: December to January, calves born late autumn.
Red Deer
Origin: North Europe, existed in pre-historic Britain.
Colour: Rich reddish-brown, some cream specimens, calves are spotted.
Distribution: Scotland and England nationwide.
Special Features: Largest wild animal in Britain.
Rutting Season: October, calves are born in June.
Explore the 3,000 acre Deer Park at Woburn Abbey
Visitors can follow the road to The Abbey by car, where you can leave your vehicle and take a leisurely stroll around the famous Abbey Gardens, enjoy refreshments in the Duchess Tea Rooms and visit The Abbey Shop and Antiques Centre. Entrance fee is £2.50 per adult to the Park and Gardens.
Prices & Opening Times 2009
| Adults | £2.50 |
|---|---|
| Under 16's | FREE |
| Safari Park Visitors | FREE |
Open daily, all year (except Christmas Day).
Annual Park Pass
Thinking of visiting the park more often? The Annual Park Pass can really save you money.
Remember, we're open everyday, all year (except Christmas Day).
Saving Pere David
Woburn is home to the largest herd of Pere David's Deer in the UK, which can been seen roaming freely within the grounds of The Woburn Estate. Originally from China, this species was saved from extinction in the 1880s by the 11th Duke of Bedford, who brought the last remaining animals to Woburn.
In 1985, the Marquess of Tavistock, later the 14th Duke of Bedford, gave 22 deer to the People's Republic of China, to reintroduce this species to the former Imperial Hunting Park in Beijing. Their herds now number several hundreds.
The largest herd of Pere David's Deer in the UK can be seen here.
Woburn Deer Farm
The World renowned Woburn Red Deer Farm was set up in 1993, with a long term vision of maximising the potential of the Woburn Red Deer genetics.
Tickets, Prices & Opening
There are a variety of different tickets available for various areas of the Abbey, all at excellent value for money.
Hire a Venue
If you're planning an occasion, there's nowhere quite like the Sculpture Gallery at Woburn Abbey.