Animal rescue heroes Harold Hill Deer Aid-‘Hardly a day goes by where we are not dealing with a very difficult, heart-breaking situation.’

Local animal rescue group Harold Hill Deer Aid-have shared their journey from their start in 2017 to now. This is a group of incredible human beings whose love, compassion and utter dedication to our animals is making a huge impact across our borough and many other areas. Their commitment means daily animal rescues that save the lives of hundreds of animals. They fight endlessly for our wildlife that is being destroyed and wiped out each day as land is overdeveloped and their homes are brutally either chopped down or destroyed.

Thanks to charities such as Harold Hill Deer Aid, animals are saved.

Harold Hill Deer Aid is a non-funded, non-profit making, voluntary group of like-minded local residents who are passionate in ensuring that all animals we are alerted to, receive the appropriate care and attention they so rightly deserve.
Forming the small group back in 2017, we never dreamt that our services would be needed by so many.
We were literally a handful of local residents who found ourselves randomly meeting up in the same places, at the same time, trying to help the same deer.
After finding difficulty in accessing wildlife care we decided to form ‘Harold Hill Deer Aid’
As we were in-experienced in helping a wild animal in distress, our first port of call was the amazing ‘South Essex Wildlife Hospital’ in Orsett.
Although relatively familiar with the local wildlife and their habitats, when it came to offering the correct assistance, it was clear that to help effectively and efficiently we needed to gain training and knowledge.
We soon learned that wild animals are very much different from domestic animals.
For instance, a dog or cat may be comforted by your presence and gentle stroking, while a wild animal will be extremely stressed and frightened which might cause it more harm than good.
To ensure we were doing things correctly we asked Sue Schwar (The South Essex Wildlife Hospital founder) if we could visit for some wildlife first aid training.
This isn’t something that they would usually offer but as we were keen to help, she kindly agreed.
Since that day, we have never looked back.
The advice Sue and her amazing team has given and continues to give will always be invaluable.
Thank goodness we have them there to not only treat and care for animals which need emergency treatment and rehabilitation but also for guidance, support and advice.
We would also like to mention Kit and Sam at Tyndale Deer Vetinary Services in Gloucestershire who we frequently call upon when deer require vetinary intervention. They are also available on what’s app should we need their advice.
Not forgetting our Mike Malone (Hillpark Vetinary Group) here in Harold Hill whose support has also been invaluable.
Along with this support we have also taken the opportunity to enrol on additional courses and training, in particular regarding the specialised equipment we so often need to use.
We now operate an extremely busy 24/7 rescue/advice service who have to clock on and off the Hill, not go on holiday at the same time or even go out on a night out at the same time.

RESCUES
Anyone involved in rescue will tell you how physically and mentally draining it can be.
Hardly a day goes by where we are not dealing with a very difficult, heart-breaking situation.
There are so many incidents that cannot be posted on social media as much too distressing for most people to see.
The physical demands can also be intense.
We never know what we will be faced with as animals can get themselves into the most awkward of situations.
This can quite often be in remote areas and densely thick undergrowth but, if we know it’s out there, no matter what, we will do our best to find it.
From cats stranded in high trees to deer which have fallen into freshly dug cesspits, we never know what a call out will bring.
Because Harold Hill Deer Aid provides such a unique service, we have been called upon to assist on rescues with organisations such as the Essex/Met Police, Fire Services, the RSPCA and just recently the TFL’s rail network service to discuss assisting with animals on the lines.
We feel extremely honoured to work alongside some of the most fantastic people you could ever want to meet.
The areas we cover can be anything from Stanstead to Kent.
However, we still have to fit in our jobs, family life and everyday duties.
It’s no lie that it sometimes brings us down and at times we find it extremely challenging but, it’s hard to put into words the uplifting feeling we receive in knowing that our intervention has helped to save an animal from harm or perhaps certain death.
When an animal is in trouble, we will do everything we can to help.

STATISTICS
(The previous three months)

*December 2023
Road Traffic accidents – Deer Loss of Life – 16
Road Traffic Accidents – Deer Survived- 6
Deer Rescued – 10
Road Traffic Accidents – Fox Loss of Life- 2
Sick/injured foxes taken to South Essex Wildlife Hospital-2
Dogs found and reunited- 2
Searches for Deer- 5 occasions
Hedgehog Rescue Taken to SEWH-1
Buzzard Rescue Taken to SEWH-1
Deer relocation- 4 Occasions

*January 2024
Road Traffic Accident’s- Deer Loss of life – 24
Road Traffic Accident’s- Deer- Survived – 4
Road Traffic Accident’s – Foxes – Loss of Life – 2
Road Traffic Accident’s – Badgers – Loss of Life – 1
Road Traffic Accident’s- Cats – Loss of Life – 4
Injured and sick foxes transported to South Essex Wildlife Hospital -5
Injured deer put to sleep – 3
Deer Rescued – 6
Deer re- location to safe area – 20 occasions
Deer – Dog Chased – Twice
Dogs scanned and reunited – 3
Lost Ferret reunited – 1
Deer chased by Motorbikes- One occasion
5 Horses relocation – Two occasions
Lost Hamster – 1
Foxes released back to the wild from South Essex Wildlife – 3

*February
RTA Deer – Loss of life- 14
RTA Deer- Survived – 5
RTA Foxes – Loss of life – 4
RTA Badgers- Loss of Life -1
RTA – Cats- Loss of life – 4
Foxes transported to South Essex Wildlife hospital – 3
Injured Deer Put to sleep – 3
Deer releases – 3
Deer Relocation – x 5
RTA Dogs – loss of life-1
Call out to dogs chasing deer – 3 occasions
Call outs to humans chasing deer- 3 occasions
Dog attacks on deer – twice
Discovered deer remains – twice
Hedgehog, cat and Dove transported to SEWH
Dogs found and reunited – 2
Deceased Deer unknown causes – 3

Along with the daily emergency call outs, we also receive countless calls for support and advice.
We also monitor and carry out daily and nightly checks on hot spots, in particular Noak Hill Road and the A12.
We quite often encounter wildlife that has been involved in road traffic accidents, we also on occasion need to encourage deer that are dangerously by the roadside back into their grazing fields.
We also keep a check on our local parks and nature reserve where we quite often have to contact the police due to suspicious activity and anti-social behaviour
We have campaigned and lobbied the council for deer warning signs around the estate.
Can you believe that it took over two years for the council to approve just 20 signs that we had to strategically place in known hotspots.
We have worked very closely with the construction company responsible for the M25 Development.
In fact, we have been in communications with both ‘GRAHAM LTD’ and ‘Highways England’ throughout the consultation and planning process ensuring that all parties take our wildlife into consideration.
Opening up these communication channels has enabled us to keep both road users and the wildlife safe by requesting deer fencing along the A12 works and along the perimeter of the site. This has also been the case with Highways England with regards to fencing and barriers along the M25.
With the assistance of the GLA office in central London we have also organised for the larger deer warning signs along the A12 from the junctions of Gubbins Lane to Petersfield Ave.
As pre-mentioned, we monitor these areas regularly and report any breaches as soon as possible.
Since the installation of the fencing, we have noticed a drastic reduction of A12 road traffic incidents involving wildlife so we thank all involved for helping to action this.

We certainly do not agree with the colossal loss of precious land connected to the M25 developments which has caused a massive wildlife dispersion, but as this scheme was signed off by central government, we soon realised that this would be going ahead.

Harold Hill is cushioned by a 365 Acre Nature Reserve with pockets of woodland and green spaces throughout the estate.
It was said that the deer were introduced to the area by the Neve family many, many years ago when they lived in the Manor Country House long before the Harold Hill Estate was built on land which was previously part of their vast estate.
Many of us feel extremely blessed to live in an area abundant with wildlife and beautiful green spaces. An area we feel is important to protect and cherish for future generations to also enjoy.

*Feeding The Deer

Harold Hill Deer Aid are continuously asked for advice, especially with regards to feeding the deer.
We can only offer advice which we have learned through our own observations, experiences and literature supplied by the British Deer Society
Along with the British Deer Society we strongly recommend that all deer, no matter how tame they may appear, should not be fed by hand or encouraged to eat any material that is not part of their natural diet.
We feel that this is becoming a major safety concern.
Deer are extremely skittish and can bolt at the slightest sound or concern.
Anyone caught in their way could be seriously hurt.
No one wants to see this happen.
We realise that people like to feed the deer, but we would like to ask you to help them keep safe by taking the chopped veg, fruit, nuts, goat mix (which you can buy in the farm shops) into the nature reserve or surrounding wooded areas.
This should help to keep them in their natural environment as much as possible.
It is important to chop the vegetables as fallow deer do not have top front teeth.

Please also remember that bread can be harmful to deer as it is not part of their natural diet.
We have found it safer to spread the food on the ground and keep your distance.
Deer can be very nervous and a sudden fright might lead them to lash out.
It may only take a slight movement of a bucks (Male Fallow Deer with Antlers) head for them to accidently cause injury to someone standing close by.
In addition, a deer’s hooves are very sharp.

On occasion you may have seen us becoming close to a deer that we are trying to rescue or treat with medication.
As mentioned, we have learned behavioural traits of the deer and monitor them very closely.
We are familiar with those which have injuries and name them purely so we all know which one we are discussing.
Please always contact us if you have any enquiries or concerns and not try and help them yourselves.
As we are seeing increasing road traffic accidents involving deer, we are asking you to not leave food near roads or places where the deer will encounter traffic.
This is extremely dangerous to not only the deer/other wildlife but also road users.
Deer will literally walk/run/jump out into the roads.
Deer do not have road sense or know the Green Cross Code.
Also, as they mainly stay in herds, if you see one, there are likely more to follow.
We are seeing food being left out all over the estate.
This is not good for the deer as they are dying every day crossing busy roads.
In addition to this we have found that the recent colossal loss of their grazing land for the M25 development and housing developments has pushed them even further on to the estate and on to our busy roads.
We need your help to keep them in safe areas.
We have heard people say “Oh well, they always come here anyway”.
We feel that we need to try and discourage them from going to those areas and encourage them back into safer areas.
If you particularly want to get close to deer then both Bedford’s Park and South Weald have deer enclosures where you are able to view the deer behind the safety of a high fence.
Last time we popped into Bedford’s Park, deer food was being sold in the Visitor Centre.

*Culling of Deer in Harold Hill/Noak Hill

The deer in Harold Hill /Noak Hill are wild roaming deer.
We are aware that culling does happen on private land surrounding Havering.
We are also aware of poaching issues.
Our discussions with the Met Police Wildlife Officer and BASC have made us aware of the shooting seasons and licencing laws.
We believe the deer in Harold Hill/Noak Hill have not been managed/culled for a number of years.
This is not something that we are involved in as we are a group that rescues animals.
Deer are iconic to Harold Hill. People come from miles away to see and photograph them.
They are beautiful majestic animals that should be seen as a great asset to Havering.
However, saying that, we are aware that deer specialists recommend that numbers need to be managed, not only to safeguard road users but also as a safeguard to the deer’s own health, sustainability, safety and well-being.
A document produced by Countryfile in June 2023 states that the UK’s deer population is believed to be at its highest level for over 1,000 years so it’s clear to see that this is a national issue and not just an issue here in Harold Hill.
We need to make it clear that we are not part of any decision making process although we have been consulted for our opinion.
Harold Hill Deer Aid believe that shooting to control numbers should not be seen as the only option.
With this in mind we have sought and paid for private expertise advice with regards to mechanisms for non-lethal control of the wild fallow deer population around Harold Hill and Havering.
Tyndale Deer Veterinary Services have provided us with a six-page intensive document to outline potential non-lethal methods of population control.
We believe that methods included in the document should also be considered as an option for any deer management.

Fundraising

As stated in our introduction Harold Hill Deer Aid is a non-profit, completely voluntary small group of local residents who are dedicated to helping animals in need.
To help with our every day running costs, vetinary fees and equipment we hold fundraising events such as Quiz Nights and have fundraising stalls at local Christmas/Easter fayres etc.
We also make a small amount of profit via the sale of our Key Rings and annual calendars, but mainly we are blessed by the receipt of kind donations.
We really appreciate everyone who supports our cause and are also those of you who are our eyes and ears keeping a watchful eye out for any issues.
We cannot thank you enough.
If anyone would like to help us to help the animals please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Also, if anyone would like to help by donating to our worthy cause, then our bank and contact details are as follows:
Email: haroldhilldeeraid10@gmail.com
Tel: 07939016367 / 07947739342
Bank: Metro Business Account
Name: Harold Hill Deer Aid
Account No. 42590924
Sort Code: 23-05-80

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