January main photo © Paula Redmond
Friends’ Calendar £9.00 available at the Visitor Centre or online here. Wall calendar, stapled, punched hole, size when open: width 29.7cm, height 42.0cm. On FSC-certified paper.
Monthly bulletin December 2021
The Friends funded Tree and Plant Quarantine Area completed
Members will have seen from our recently published newsletter that the Friends was the main funder of a tree and plant quarantine area in the existing nursery area at Isabella plantation. The area supports the growth of cuttings and young seedlings and enables newly acquired trees to be quarantined and grown for a year or two until they are ready to be planted in the wider Park. We are delighted to report that the area has been completed and already it has seedlings and saplings for a number of trees including sallow, black poplar and hornbeam.
Photo credit: John Strachan
An Unusual Visitor
A male New Zealand Scaup, also known as a Black Teal, was present at the Pen Ponds for several weeks in November. This small species of duck is endemic to New Zealand and is non-migratory. Clearly this individual had escaped from a private collection; nevertheless it made itself very much at home, constantly diving in search of food. Interestingly, what is assumed to be the same bird was seen briefly at Pen Ponds in October 2019.
Discoverers
We wish Teresa Grafton (Leader of Discoverers) and Brendan (her husband who has been the Discoverers photographer and who managed its website pages) all the very best as they leave their posts at the end of this year.
Thank you to children who have returned coloured in Olly the Little Owls, which will appear soon at the Visitor Centre. Please do look out for activities in the New Year when we plan on getting together for some birdwatching in the Park as part of the RSPB Big Birdwatching weekend at the end of January.
Trustees
Monique Sarkany, our new leader of Discoverers, and Nigel Sherwin, who has been leading our Adopt-An-Area litter picking scheme since July, have both been appointed trustees of the Friends. They are both featured in our recently published newsletter. We welcome them both to this new role.
Guided Walks
Our free guided walks do not need to be booked ahead. Walks begin at 10am and finish around midday at the same car park or gate. Please keep dogs under control. The next walks are:
- 26th December 2021; walk is from Pembroke Lodge at 10.00am. Note: motor vehicle access only via Richmond, Ham and Kingston Gates.
- 1st January 2022; walk is from Robin Hood Gate Car Park at 10.00am. Note: motor vehicle access only via Roehampton Gate.
See the full programme of details here.
Happy Christmas!
We wish all our members and readers of this bulletin best wishes for Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Visitor Centre – December 2021
Special Christmas shopping day on Monday 20th December
The Visitor Information Centre by Pembroke Lodge is decorated for Christmas and our team of volunteers are looking forward to welcoming you for some last minute shopping.
New in stock
Small prints of Mark Frith’s The Royal Oak – the perfect Christmas present!
New stock of the 35 x 28 cm (13.8 x 11 ins) art prints of Mark Frith’s The Royal Oak, commissioned by the Friends, are now available. The gicleé prints, on 270 gsm white art paper and carefully rolled in cardboard tubes, are priced at £32 each, and are available both at the Visitor Information Centre by Pembroke Lodge and in the online shop.
- A new delivery of wood turned fruit from seasoned wood collected in Richmond Park. Prices start from £15.00
- New Snowy Richmond Park tea towel £7.00
- New design Richmond Park fridge magnets £2.50
- Back in stock later this month are the Vine Deer, prices start from £12.50
- Honey is now back in stock
- Richmond Park 500 piece jigsaw puzzle in a cloth bag will be back in stock on 17th December £11.50
- Ceramic Christmas decorations £7.00
- New Olly the Little Owl mugs £14.00
The Visitor Centre will also be open on Monday 27th December but closed on Saturday 25th December (Christmas Day). New Winter Visitor Centre opening hours can be found here. Only credit or debit cards are accepted.
Friends Christmas Cards – at the Visitor Centre and online
Photos clockwise from top left: © Kasia Ciesielska-Faber, © Amanda Boardman, © Nigel Attenborough, © Tammy Marlar, © Paula Redmond, © Diana Loch.
Six designs. Packs of eight cards of one design. £5.00 at the Visitor Centre or online here. Size 14cm x 14cm. FSC-certified paper. Plastic-free packaging and glitter-free.
Richmond Park Diary – December 2021
Sign up to The Royal Parks Richmond Park newsletter
The Royal Parks has a new newsletter specifically for Richmond Park, which will include the latest news and upcoming events. Sign up here.
Avian Flu update
In a recent press release, The Royal Parks have asked the public to assist in their efforts to prevent the spread of avian flu by not feeding or touching wildlife. Any sick or dead birds seen in the Royal Parks can be reported to 0300 061 2000 or via email hq@royalparks.org.uk.