Mammals

One of the most iconic residents of Windsor Great Park is the red deer, found in the Deer Park beside The Long Walk. The current herd was introduced in 1979 by The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, beginning with two stags and 40 hinds from the Balmoral Estate. Today, they are a familiar and majestic sight, especially during the autumn rut.

While not truly wild, the red deer-and the rare breed cattle also found in the Park-play a vital role in maintaining the landscape and biodiversity. Test link

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Badger

Badgers play a vital role in UK ecosystems. As omnivores, they help control insect and small mammal populations. Their digging aerates soil, promoting plant growth and seed dispersal. Setts provide shelter for other species like foxes and rabbits. Their presence also indicates healthy woodland and grassland habitats.

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Brown hare

The brown hare in the UK is a fast, long-limbed mammal known for its powerful hind legs and black-tipped ears. Native to Europe, it thrives in open farmland and grasslands, but its numbers have declined due to habitat loss and agricultural practices.

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Mole

The mole is a small, stocky mammal with black velvet fur and shovel-like front paws. Widespread across the UK (except Ireland), it lives underground, feeding mainly on earthworms and insect larvae, and is best known for the molehills it leaves behind.

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Muntjac deer

The muntjac deer is a small, stocky species originally from Asia, now common in parts of the UK including the Windsor Estate. Often seen alone, it prefers woodland and dense undergrowth. Males have small antlers and tusk-like teeth. Muntjac are active year-round, feeding on leaves, shoots, and fruit, and can breed throughout the year.

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Red deer

The red deer is the UK’s largest native land mammal, known for its impressive antlers and seasonal rutting displays. At Windsor Great Park, the herd plays a key role in landscape management and biodiversity. Though not truly wild, they are carefully managed and contribute to the Estate’s ecological balance year-round.

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Roe deer

The roe deer is a graceful, medium-sized native species found in woodlands, farmland, and parkland across the UK. Recognisable by its reddish summer coat and white rump, it is usually seen alone or in small groups. Roe deer breed in summer, with fawns born the following spring after delayed implantation.

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