Main picture: The Painted Lady Butterfly in Pembroke Lodge
Photograph: Nigel Jackman
The Painted Lady butterfly
Photograph: Nigel Jackman
Pictured in Pembroke Lodge gardens last month, the Painted Lady butterfly may be seen in the Park any time from now until as late as October. It is a migrant from North Africa, successive generations breeding on their journey here. We are dependent on annual migrants as the species cannot withstand our winter, and numbers seen in any year vary according to the scale of the migration. Look also for Red Admiral, Peacock and the now increasingly uncommon Small Tortoiseshell which has suffered in recent years, possibly from attacks on their larvae by certain species of parasitic wasps.
Conservation volunteers at work in Prince Charles Spinney
From February 2024 and throughout the winter 2024/25, the Friends Conservation volunteers have mostly worked in Prince Charles Spinney where a hazel plantation was planted 11 years ago.
First they removed tree tubes, fighting their way through brambles. They then cut down the many silver birch which was shading the hazel. They used a winch to fell large trees in the desired direction. Finally they planted hazel whips to fill gaps and hawthorn and euonymus along the fence line.
The bluebells flourished this year and could now be seen.
The ‘piglets’ of Richmond Park
Stock photo
If you hear a squeal from a reed bed you might think a piglet is on the loose. In fact it is the sound of a Water Rail, a highly secretive and reclusive bird that lives concealed amongst the reeds. Its main call, known as sharming, comprises a series of grunts followed by a high-pitched piglet-like sound and ending with more grunts.
The Water Rail is smaller than a Moorhen, its plumage a mix of chestnut-brown and grey with black and white markings, and it has a distinctive red bill. Its body is flattened laterally to enable it to pass through the reed beds more easily. It is omnivorous, feeding mainly on small fish, snails and insects, turning more to berries and plant stems in the winter. A recent survey identified six of them in the reed bed above Upper Pen Pond and they have occurred at three other ponds in the past year, an encouraging picture.
Beware of ticks
The noticeboard at the Visitor Centre at Pembroke Lodge has been raising awareness of ticks
Ticks are small creatures, related to spiders and mites, that feed on the blood of animals and sometimes people. Ticks can survive in many places but prefer slightly moist, shady areas such as bracken, bushes and leaf litter. They can be found in both long and short grass. Ticks can’t jump or fly, so they have to wait until an animal (or human) brushes past to attach to their skin. The tick population peaks between spring and autumn (March to October).
Lyme disease or Lyme borreliosis, is a bacterial infection spread by infected ticks. Human infection is uncommon, because only a small proportion of ticks have the infection. However, those ticks that may carry Lyme disease are common in the countryside, especially woodlands and parks with deer, such as Richmond Park.
For more information on tick bites and the prevention of Lyme Disease see the government advice: Tick bite risks and prevention of Lyme disease: resources – GOV.UK
Richmond May Fair
Roger Hillyer, Chair of the Friends, and Gareth Roberts, Leader of Richmond Council and a trustee of The Royal Parks, at the Friends stall
We had a steady flow of visitors to the stall all day, helped by the glorious weather. We had a number of items from the Visitor Centre for sale. Our presence certainly raised the awareness of the Friends and the work that we do and there were several enquiries regarding membership.
Sir Loyd Grossman’s term as The Royal Parks Chair extended for a further 9 months
The Secretary of State for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has extended Sir Loyd’s term as Chairman of The Royal Parks for a further nine months, from 1 June 2025 to 28 February 2026, while the process to appoint a new permanent Chair of The Royal Parks is run.