Isabella Plantation in early May 2026
Photograph: Roger Hillyer
Sir David Attenborough montage produced by the Friends
Visitors to Pembroke Lodge in the last few weeks will have seen this new montage in the lobby at Pembroke Lodge. This has been produced by the Friends as part of our celebrations of Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday. Thank you to Louise Hearsum for allowing this to be displayed at Pembroke Lodge.
Finding Sir David – Voices on the 100th Birthday of Sir David Attenborough
Andreas Kirchner, an Austrian freelance journalist, environmental educator, kindergarten teacher and member of the Friends, has produced a film: “Finding Sir David – Voices on the 100th Birthday of Sir David Attenborough”.
It features Richmond Park and includes interviews with Friends trustee Monique Sarkany and Chairman of the Richmond Park Wildlife Group Nigel Jackman.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDUzVkPDdFw
The Shire horses of Richmond Park
According to The Royal Parks, there are just 2,000 Shire horses left in the world – and ten of them live in Richmond Park. You’ll see them out and about, carrying out conservation work and giving carriage rides. In the spring they mow the grass road-side verges, in the summer they roll the emerging bracken and in the winter they harrow areas of bracken.
Click below to learn more about Tom, Monty, Joey, William, Henry, Arthur, Lois, George and Charlie, the Shire horses of Richmond Park:
https://www.royalparks.org.uk/read-watch-listen/meet-richmond-parks-shire-horses
An uncommon visitor to Richmond Park
Photograph: Nigel Jackman
A Clouded Yellow butterfly was spotted in Pembroke Lodge gardens in late May, sipping nectar in one of the ornamental flower beds. August or early September is the best time to find them, so this one was early. These strong-flying nomadic butterflies migrate in variable numbers each year from the Mediterranean areas of north Africa and southern Europe, and this one was probably helped across the English Channel by a plume of warm air in the recent heatwave. Six were seen in the Park last summer, but no more than one is recorded in a typical season.