If you commute in and out of London, at some point in your life you'll no doubt feel stuck in a rut; the same old, same old.
But 'tis the rutting season, so Bushy Park and other open spaces are echoing to the bellow of frisky deer. The warm weather of late has helped stir the deep emotions of these majestic beasts.
Think of the fight scene in Romeo and Juliet, two strutting males circle each other, exchanging verbal barbs. They clash, it gets dangerous and anyone caught in the middle gets hurt.
National newspapers have this week warned of the dangers of coming between deer and at least one has a series of photos of Bushy Park's passionate deer locking horns with wildlife and people that accidentally strayed in to the danger zone.. It's not funny and I'm sure the encounters were painful.
It's a reminder that we live cheek by jowl with a whole host of wild creatures in our cities and gardens. Most go about their daily business without impacting on our lives. We people tend to ignore the buddleia growing from the sides of tall buildings, the foxes strolling down the road or the squirrels running along the tops of fences. As for the birds, they're largely ignored as being part of the street furniture and bugs only warrant a squeal when a slug or spider trespasses into our lives.
But it all deserves a more careful look. London's wild population far exceeds the human one and is incredidbly diverse. We'll have staff out in Bushy Park this weekend and next, pointing out some of the amazing creatures that share our Capital. Just remember, those creatures are wild (not our staff - they're very friendly). Those other "wild" creatures are not tame enough to stroke. What you think may be a gentle and calm approach may be interpreted by wildlife as a threat, closely followed by a predictable response.
Let's not forget our lovely river. The Thames. It's brown, sometimes smelly and not brimming with salmon or trout. But it is still a gem of a place that we must cherish. The best news all week was Boris Johnson announcing on an LBC interview that his estuary airport plan is grounded. 300,000 migratory birds use it annualy despite it being in poor condition. Imagine the wildlife that will thrive along it when we improve it!
London's nature is truly amazing. Go visit Bushy Park, Hampstead Heath, Abney Park Cemetery, your garden or nearest outdoor space and discover it for yourself. Just treat it with respect.