While driving in Richmond Park on my way to Roehampton car park I had to wait in a traffic queue behind some cars which had stopped to allow a herd of deer cross the road.

I was pleased the drivers had enough sense to let the deer cross unhindered, and it was an opportunity to see the deer at close quarters.

It was with disgust that I then heard the driver hooting his car horn as if to say to the deer "hurry up". This horn-blowing was then followed by a chorus of hoots from other selfish drivers.

Why are people so impatient with the deer? Why, when they use Richmond Park as a short cut, do these people think they own the road and the wildlife should scatter out of the way? Such people should be banned from the park.

AUDREY DEVENPORT

Acre Road

Kingston

July 11, 2002 16:30