‘PLEASE DON’T TAKE OUR DEER AWAY’: Harold Hill resident makes heartfelt plea to save beloved animals.
A Harold Hill resident has made an emotional plea to protect the area’s much-loved deer, saying they are the reason they chose to live in the area and that losing them would be heartbreaking.
The resident contacted The Havering Daily after attending a meeting at Briar Road around three weeks ago, where councillors, community workers and a police officer were present.
They claim they were told that all the deer would be moved out of Harold Hill, news they say left them devastated.
Explaining their deep attachment to the animals, the resident said the deer were the reason they continued to live in Harold Hill, adding that without them, they would have moved away a long time ago.
The resident even spends their own money buying carrots from local shops and Tesco because they love seeing and caring for the deer.
While acknowledging that Harold Hill faces challenges, including anti-social behaviour, they believe the deer bring something special to the community and make the area beautiful.
In an emotional message, the resident pleaded with those responsible not to remove the animals or reduce their numbers without properly considering alternatives.
They said: “I am an animal lover. I love dogs, cats and I love the deer. Only because of the deer am I living in Harold Hill. Otherwise, I would have moved away a long time ago.
“I love the deer so much. I spend my own money buying carrots for them because I care about them.
“I know Harold Hill has its problems with anti-social behaviour, but the deer make Harold Hill beautiful.”
The resident went on to explain just how deeply the prospect of losing the deer affects them.
They said: “It feels like telling human beings they cannot have any more children because there are too many, and that some of their children will be taken away or killed.
“That is how I feel now. No one will understand how much love I have for Harold Hill because of the deer.”
The resident wants the animals to remain in the area for the rest of their life and hopes future generations will be able to enjoy seeing them too.
They added: “Please, please, please stop reducing the deer from Harold Hill and stop killing them.
“I want them to stay in Harold Hill.”
The plea comes amid wider discussion about deer management in Havering, where concerns have been raised about the impact of browsing and grazing on woodland regeneration and the natural environment.
The council has previously said it was developing a deer management strategy following a census. However, the resident’s account of what they were told at the Briar Road meeting has not been independently confirmed, and it remains important to establish precisely what was proposed.
For this resident, the issue is about far more than wildlife management. The deer represent a source of happiness, comfort and connection to the place they call home.
Their message is simple: they want the deer to remain part of Harold Hill and are asking decision-makers to consider the strength of feeling among people who cherish them.
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