Created by the Luttrell family of Dunster Castle in the 18th century, the Dunster Estate's Deer Park is a great place to see veteran trees, deer, and a range of other fascinating and rare wildlife..
Parkland and wood pasture with veteran trees
The Dunster Estate’s Deer Park is a nationally important site for wood pasture, which is a vegetation structure that is comprised of a mixture of sporadic woodland and grassland. This results from a long association with grazing animals, and as it takes hundreds of years to develop, is often rich in veteran trees.
The Dunster Estate’s Deer Park, therefore, proudly boasts numerous veteran and ancient Oaks (Quercus petraea), Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), and the internationally scarce Black poplar (Populus nigra ssp. betulifolia).
Key Parkland species to look out for:
Hornet (Vespa crabro) - The largest European wasp, hornets nest in hollow trees, often lining the entrance holes with brittle yellow paper which the produce from chewed wood. On Exmoor it is regarded as a flagship species, highlighting the dependence of a wide variety of invertebrates which depend on veteran trees. Look out for this impressive insect during the summer months.
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)- The commonest UK bird of prey, this is quite a large bird which feeds mainly on rabbits and small mammals, but will also feed on carrion, beetles and worms. The wings are broad and rounded and it has a short neck and tail. It is often seen gliding and soaring, with its wings in a shallow ‘V’. Buzzards vary in colour and markings from dark brown to light brown plumage and pale heads and breasts. Look out for their dark wing tips and a banded tail in the skies above the Dunster Estate all year round.