Areas enclosed for the farming and, sometimes (depending on their size) the hunting of deer to provide venison for lordly elites. The parks often have rounded outlines, defined by earthen banks and ditches, supplemented by expensive wooden fences called pales.

The interiors usually contained a mixture of woodland and open glades or launds. Medieval deer parks were often created from existing woodland or land that was for unsuited for agriculture. Parks could also include other sources of high status foods, such as rabbits from warrens, fish and waterfowl from ponds, and doves from dovecotes. Park keepers and visitors were accommodated in lodges within the parks.