Deer's head found at St Michael's Church in Lyndhurst

A member of the public was walking past St Michael and All Angels Church in Lyndhurst on Wednesday when they made the shocking discovery.

The head was taken away and the area cleaned in a bid to remove all traces of the incident.

In 2021 the head of a sika deer was left outside St Michael's in what the Rev David Potterton described as a "savage, callous and disgusting act".

Posting on social media at the time he said: "Alarmingly, someone has left the severed head of a deer in the porch - a very distressing find for the person who discovered it."

A severed deer's head was found dumped at St Michael and All Angels Church in Lyndhurst (Image: Newsquest)

The British Deer Society echoed his comments, described the incident as "very shocking".

A spokesman confirmed that deer remains were often dumped indiscriminately by poachers in the countryside, but said it was difficult to understand why anyone would target a church.

READ MORE: Deer's head dumped in porch at Lyndhurst church

Several people took to social media to voice their shock and disgust at the incident, which one person described as "absolutely sickening".

The New Forest has been hit by a spate of animal killings in recent years.

A severed deer's head was found dumped at St Michael and All Angels Church in Lyndhurst (Image: Newsquest)

Last year, a severed deer's head was found on a commemorative stone in Burley - the day before police received reports that five sheep had been brutally stabbed at Cadnam.

The sheep belonged to the chairman of the Commoners' Defence Association, which represents the owners of the Forest's free-roaming animals.

Andrew Parry-Norton said one of the sheep had to be put down after suffering a 4in gash to its side.

READ MORE: Dead cat tied to flagpole at Bramshaw church

In 2022 a dead cat was found tied to a flagpole at the 12th century St Peter's Church in Bramshaw - two weeks after the remains of a fox were discovered on the church doorstep.

In another incident dead rabbits and a deer were dumped outside a house on the Calmore estate at Totton, sparking a police investigation. 

Neighbours said the animals had been shot, adding that the people living in the house had no idea why they had been targeted.

In 2020 a headless deer was found beside the A338 near Ringwood. Police said the deer had gunshot wounds to its legs and body, adding that its head had been removed.

The Rev Potterton declined to discuss the latest incident at St Michael and All Angels Church.

Hampshire police and Forestry England have also been approached for comment.