2 days before storms and gales are forecast we had a lovely walk in the sunshine in the garden and grounds of the 17th Century Dyrham Park, one of the most notable stately homes of its age.

In the gardens there were robins everywhere and two visited us very close up.

Post script

Sadly there were no deer to see in the parkland – see note below from the National Trust

“We are very sad to report that due to high levels of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) detected in our deer that we have had to cull the entire herd at Dyrham Park.

Despite our efforts to try to control the disease which has included taking advice from Government agencies and other experts, infection rates have continued to rise since it was first detected on site in 2007.  We have therefore sadly been left with no other choice but to cull the deer in order to prevent any further suffering due to this terrible disease.  The health and welfare of the deer herd has always been our number one priority. 

We – all our staff and volunteers – are all devastated by this decision and the loss of the much-loved deer herd from this very special parkland setting and we understand how upsetting this is for everyone. 

While it has been a very sad few months coming to this conclusion, we do have every intention to rid the site of bTB and will reintroduce the deer to this historic parkland setting as soon as we are able. “