- Protecting the Park we love
Read our chairman Ron Crompton's regular letters to the Friends about topical Park issues, published first in the Friends' newsletter
1 February, 2012 - Win a wildlife safari by night
Read about Discoverers, a new activities programme for families and young people, and enter an exciting competition – with an amazing prize
25 January, 2012 - See the Friends on Facebook
We now have our own Facebook page – a good way for Friends to keep updated on everything that's happening in the Park
22 January, 2012 - Buy your copies now!
The Friends' two guides are essential reading for anyone who loves the Park – for sale now in local bookshops or online
31 December, 2011 - The ideal gift for Christmas!
Racking your brains for the perfect stocking filler? The Friends' guides make great gifts, available from the Visitors' Centre or local bookstores
29 November, 2011 - Poetry winners celebrated
Read all about our Poems in the Park competition, including all the winning poems and coverage in the Sheengate magazines
11 November, 2011 - Poems in the Park shortlist
With over 650 entries, our Poems in the Park competition presented the panel of judges with a real challenge. Here's the shortlist...
18 October, 2011 - Rave reviews for Family Trails
The Friends' second book, Family Trails in Richmond Park, is selling well in local bookshops – and proving a big hit with the local press
6 October, 2011 - Poetry competition "amazing"
650 entries to our poetry competition, many revealing impressive talent, meant our panel of judges had an extremely difficult job
5 October, 2011 - Cinema screenings cancelled!
Good news: the potentially damaging film screenings in the Park have been cancelled, partly (we like to think) because of pressure from the Friends
11 August, 2011 - New Family Trails guide
Specially for families – the Friends' beautifully-illustrated new book of discovery trails, each with 20 brilliant things to see and do
20 July, 2011 - Friends oppose Park screenings
The planned cinema events in the Park could damage Park wildlife, including little owls – and set a disturbing precedent for the future
19 July, 2011 - Icing on the cake for Friends
On a glorious June evening, nearly 200 Friends gathered at Pembroke Lodge to celebrate the FRP's 50th birthday and admire a spectacular cake
15 July, 2011 - A magical world revealed
You may have seen photographer Alex Saberi's images of the Park in the national press – and there are more to admire in our Guide to Richmond Park
19 April, 2011 - FRP announces its new Patrons
Three prominent local residents – Dame Jacqueline Wilson, Baroness Susan Kramer and Sir David Attenborough – have agreed to be Patrons of the Friends
18 March, 2011 - Celebrate the Park in verse
Sir Trevor McDonald has joined the judges of the Friends' poetry competition, held in conjunction with The Richmond and Kingston Magazines
18 March, 2011 - Our 50th anniversary events
There will be two very special 50th anniversary events for Friends in 2011 – a tour of the Royal Ballet School and summer tea party
5 January, 2011 - Wild about the Thames
Stunning images of Richmond Park form part of Wild about the Thames, a new book of images by our featured photographer Andrew Wilson
4 January, 2011 - Who runs the Park - update 4
Responding to the planned transfer of the Royal Parks to the Mayor, the Richmond and Bushy Parks Forum has adopted a 7-point programme
4 January, 2011 - Coming soon, our 50th birthday
In 2011 the Friends celebrate a half-century of protecting the Park – and plans are afoot to mark the anniversary in style
9 November, 2010 - Who runs the Park - update 3
If the government's plans to give control of Richmond Park to Boris Johnson go ahead, how can we safeguard the Park's unique character and ecology?
19 October, 2010 - Celebrating the Park in images
We are lucky to have a rich resource of striking images of the Park. Find out more about Andrew Wilson, the first of our featured photographers
30 September, 2010 - Plans for Isabella Plantation
The Friends broadly support The Royal Parks' proposed package of improvements to the Isabella Plantation. Download the Friends' detailed response here
26 July, 2010 - Three young deer found dead
Dogs appear to have mauled three very young deer found dead in the Park, underscoring the need for owners to keep dogs under close control
26 July, 2010 - Oak Processionary Moth update
A team of Royal Parks staff and Friends' volunteers has been spotting nests - and the bad news is that there are an awful lot of them
26 July, 2010 - Friends at St Margaret's Fair
We're taking a stall at this long-running and successful event, which takes place on the afternoon of 10th July. Find out more here
14 June, 2010 - Welcome to FRP's new website
Whether you're a Friend, live locally or are simply visiting, our new website is designed to help you make the very most of Richmond Park
25 April, 2010 - Friends' AGM 2010
The Friends' AGM was held at 1.00 pm on Saturday 24 April 2010 at King's House School, King's Road, Richmond. More details here
6 April, 2010 - Funding Park conservation
The Friends are helping to fund two Park projects - new enclosures and a new tern raft
30 March, 2010 - Toll on through traffic?
Charging through traffic has been mooted as an alternative to car parking charges in Richmond and Bushy Parks
30 March, 2010 - Photography Competition 2010
Judging has taken place in our fourth annual competition - so keep an eye out for the winning photos in the Visitors' Centre
18 March, 2010 - Flaws in parking charge scheme
The go-ahead for parking charges will tackle peak-hour congestion, but only by penalising visitors at other times. See the Friends' response
16 March, 2010 - Parking charges approved
Margaret Hodge, the Minister for Culture and Tourism, announced today that she will go ahead with parking charges in Richmond Park later this year.
15 January, 2010 - The Friends' AGM 2009
The day's programme included a talk from the Royal Parks' Ecologist
30 March, 2009 - Mayor delays development
Mixed feelings about the Mayor's decision on the view of St Paul's
29 March, 2009 - Stables development refused
The Friends objected to a proposed development near Robin Hood Gate
19 January, 2009 - Chairman's letter, autumn 2008
Ron Crompton asks what the Park is for
15 December, 2008
- January Park diaries
An abundant acorn crop means that the Park's deer are noticeably less interested in the supplementary winter feed provided by Park staff
6 January, 2012 - December Park diaries
Christmas trees go on sale in the Roehampton Gate car park and Fenton the dog goes viral – but there's a serious message behind the hype
6 December, 2011 - November Park diaries
The cows are back in the 10-acre paddock near Holly Lodge. Work continues on the sand martin nest bank and rhododendron clearance in Sidmouth Wood
5 November, 2011 - Tread Lightly in the Park
Want to help make sure the Park stays its beautiful best for all of us to enjoy? The new Friends leaflet gives some useful advice
30 October, 2011 - Preventing Lyme disease
Lyme disease seems to be more prevalent this year. Read the Royal Parks' leaflet on ticks, Lyme disease and sensible preventative measures
11 October, 2011 - New Board for Royal Parks
The Richmond and Bushy Parks Forum has put forward its views on the membership of the new Board which will run the Royal Parks
6 October, 2011 - October Park diaries
Conservation work is taking place in Sidmouth woods, and an artificial sand martin nest bank is being constructed to the south of Pen Ponds
2 October, 2011 - September Park diaries
Work is underway in the Park to pollard willows along the Beverley Brook, create a reinforced Pen Ponds spillway and remove non-native rhododendrons
11 September, 2011 - Olympic road trial update
Find out what detailed measures are being taken to protect the Park's ecology on Sunday during the Olympic road cycling trial event
11 August, 2011 - Transfer of Park to Mayor
The Mayor won't get control of the Royal Parks, but he will have a lot more power over what happens in them. Read the government statement
25 July, 2011 - Boost for Isabella project
Good to see visitors contributing generously to the donation boxes at the Isabella Plantation gates, helping match Lottery funding
19 July, 2011 - Olympic cycling test run
Gridlock and 12,000-strong crowds are predicted for August 14, the date of the road cycling test event through the Park
19 July, 2011 - July Park and Isabella diaries
Changes are afoot in the Park as a result of government spending cuts. On a more cheerful note, we hope the Park will soon have a sand martin bank
3 July, 2011 - June Park and Isabella diary
Following unusually warm weather, the deer have started to give birth very early this year. Baby red deer are already walking with the herd…
1 June, 2011 - May Park and Isabella diary
Volunteers will be inspecting the Park's oak trees for signs of the Oak Processionary Moth – a recent arrival which threatens both trees and people
11 May, 2011 - April Park and Isabella diary
Badgers are busy spring cleaning, deer are growing their new antlers and azaleas in the Isabella Plantation are coming into flower
4 April, 2011 - At last, a Guide to the Park!
The FRP's new guidebook is full of fascinating info about the Park and includes nearly 300 colour pictures. And Friends can buy a copy for only £7
18 March, 2011 - Park diaries for March
Toads are becoming more active and the Park's breeding birds are beginning their courtship behaviours. Watch out for soaring skylarks...
1 March, 2011 - Park in Olympic spotlight
The recently-announced Olympic road cycling route runs through Richmond Park - although there are a few issues still to be resolved
15 February, 2011 - February's Park Diaries
The effects of pollarding look dramatic at first, but this technique is responsible for the survival of most of the Park's veteran oak trees
3 February, 2011 - 50th anniversary celebrations
Ticket application form
5 January, 2011 - Carelessness costs deer lives
In Richmond Park, people kill around 20 deer every year. The causes include speeding cars, out-of-control dogs and litter, as a shocking picture shows
5 January, 2011 - January's Park diaries
Exceptionally cold and icy conditions caused disruption to road traffic but gave pleasure to many on the Park's snow-clad hills
5 January, 2011 - Park funding slashed
The news is even worse than we thought. Richmond Park alone will lose around £500,000 a year, affecting many aspects of its activities
3 January, 2011 - December Park diaries
Budget cuts loom over Richmond Park. Expect more commercial ventures, like December's sale of Christmas trees from the Roehampton Gate car park
1 December, 2010 - Festive Carols for Holly Lodge
Book now for the annual Christmas Carol Concert in aid of the Holly Lodge Centre, to be held on December 8 in St Mary Magdalene Church Richmond.
24 November, 2010 - "Where are the deer?"
In the last three years the Visitor Centre has helped thousands of people enjoy the Park – and generated useful funds for conservation
9 November, 2010 - November's Park diaries
Good news for conservationists – Richmond Park's grassland habitats are officially rated as "recovering"
3 November, 2010 - Gate design credited to Soane
Thanks to Max Lankester and the Friends, Sir John Soane has received belated official recognition for the design of the Park's Richmond gate
1 October, 2010 - Park Open Day draws the crowds
On a fine autumn day, thousands of visitors descended on Holly Lodge to enjoy a varied selection of family-friendly activities and exhibits
20 September, 2010 - October's Park diaries
Look out for rutting deer, striking displays of autumn colour and spectacular fungi (not for picking) - as well as the odd film crew
1 September, 2010 - September Park diaries
The swallows are about to set out on their long migration to Africa, and stags and bucks are sporting fully-grown new antlers
1 September, 2010 - Richmond Park in print
Keen to learn more about the Park? Our newly-expanded book list contains current favourites and out of print books that are well worth searching out
25 August, 2010 - August Park and Isabella diary
Parking charge plans are cancelled by the new coalition government and Richmond Park wins a Green Flag award for the fourth year running
1 August, 2010 - July Park diary
Government funding cuts may affect the Park, but it is too early to say how. Meanwhile, terns are nesting on their new raft, funded by the Friends
9 July, 2010 - Richmond Park Open Day 2010
This year's Open Day is Sunday 19th September - a family day out with over 40 stalls and lots for visitors of all ages to enjoy
14 June, 2010 - June Park and Isabella diary
This month the Park's deer give birth to their young. To protect them, it's best to keep to footpaths and keep dogs on leads or under close control
28 May, 2010 - May Park and Isabella diary
The Park sees improvements to the main cycle route and the arrival of a purpose-built raft for breeding terns in upper Pen Pond
2 May, 2010 - April Park and Isabella diary
It's spring at last: rhododendrons are in bloom, frogs are spawning and deer are growing new antlers. Read the monthly Park and Isabella diary
6 April, 2010 - Controlling deer numbers
Without humane control, the number of deer in Richmond Park would rapidly rise to unsustainable levels, says the Park team. Read more
10 March, 2010 - March Park and Isabella diary
Birds nesting, a new tern raft, a new link between the Park and Wimbledon Common and more: the monthly update from the Richmond Park team
27 February, 2010 - February Park diaries
Opening and closing the gates, grazing cows, tree planting and new parking regulations: February's monthly update from the Park team
1 February, 2010 - Pen Ponds dog rescue
An icy day, a dog off-lead and a dramatic rescue at Pen Ponds, witnessed and recorded by walker Steve Williams
6 January, 2010 - January Park diaries
The Park mourns the death of Barry Day, one of its longest-serving members of staff. Meanwhile temperatures drop and the Park wins a woodland award
29 December, 2009 - Bird Notes for January 2010
In the last of his monthly Bird Notes, Jan Wilczur observes the effects of the prolonged cold weather
28 December, 2009 - December Park diaries
The cows are back and deer have dispersed into single-sex groups
2 December, 2009 - November Park diaries
After years of service, Forte the shire horse is dead
31 October, 2009 - Bird Notes for November 2009
Flocks of new arrivals are seen in the Park
30 October, 2009 - October Park diaries
The grand spectacle of the deer rut reaches its climax
1 October, 2009 - Bird Notes for October 2009
Buzzards were seen in the Park in unprecedented numbers
30 September, 2009 - September Park diaries
The Park still supports a very healthy bat population
31 August, 2009 - Bird Notes for September 2009
Migration began in earnest in August
30 August, 2009 - August Park diaries
Richmond Park is awarded a Green Flag for the third year running
30 July, 2009 - Bird Notes for August 2009
A Common Tern nest is abandoned after a thunderstorm
29 July, 2009 - July Park diaries
The nests of an exotic invader will be removed in early July
2 July, 2009 - Bird Notes for July 2009
A kestrel nest containing two young is discovered
1 July, 2009 - June Park diary
An unplanned pregnancy reaches its natural conclusion
3 June, 2009 - Bird notes for June 2009
The familiar Cuckoo is suffering serious population decline
2 June, 2009 - May Park diary
New rules for dog-walkers will help protect water birds
30 April, 2009 - Bird notes for May 2009
Summer migrants continued to arrive in the Park
29 April, 2009 - April Park diaries
Consultation continues on the car parking proposals
4 April, 2009 - Bird notes for April 2009
All common British species of Owl have been recorded in the Park this winter
3 April, 2009 - Bird Notes for March 2009
Heavy snowfall brings throngs of people into the Park – but the birds are less in evidence
4 March, 2009 - March Park diaries
Work continues to restore Prince Charles Spinney
27 February, 2009 - Bird Notes for February 2009
The hoped for Bittern failed to appear, unfortunately
6 February, 2009 - February Park diaries
Three cows continue to graze grassland near Holly Lodge
1 February, 2009 - Bird Notes for December 2008
Another Red Kite recorded inside the Park
14 January, 2009 - January Park diaries
Cold weather creates extra work for Park staff
29 December, 2008 - December Park diaries
Work continues on tree safety
1 December, 2008 - November Park diaries
Stags feast on chestnuts and beech mast to regain their strength
1 November, 2008 - October Park diaries
Horse riders have much to enjoy in the Park
1 October, 2008 - A Park milestone celebrated
Remembering John Lewis, a Richmond brewer, who 250 years ago succeeded in re-establishing the public right to walk across the Park
27 May, 2008