Main picture: Sunday morning in Richmond Park – 6 September 2026
Photograph: Amanda Boardman
The Friends to provide substantial funds to help rewild a further section of Beverley Brook
Photo: a section of the Beverley Brook re-wilded (or re-wiggled). This section was restored in 2011 and the photograph shows the impact with thriving lush vegetation and greater biodiversity. Photograph by Richard Gray from the Friends booklet: Sir David Attenborough’s Richmond Park – Sir David championed the 2011 work as its patron.
The Friends are to be one of the major funders of work to restore and rewiggle a further stretch of the Beverley Brook.
In early October work will start to restore a stretch of the Beverley Brook by Robin Hood Gate. This exciting project is being delivered by The Royal Parks with funding from the Friends along with Community BlueScapes. It will boost biodiversity, reduce flood risk and improve water quality. The bottom of the channel will be narrowed and ‘re-wiggled’ whilst the banks are regraded, creating more varied flow, enhancing habitats for fish, invertebrates and birds, and creating a more attractive environment for visitors. This builds on the first phase of the river restoration started in 2011 which was also supported by the Friends.
Work is expected to take 4-6 weeks. There will be vehicle movements in the area and public access will not be available while the new habitats establish; however, dog-free pedestrian access will be provided to a previously restored section of river downstream.
Christmas cards
One of six new Christmas Card designs for 2026: Noble stag. Photograph: Paula Redmond
Our Christmas cards are now in stock – beautiful new designs showing the Park’s wildlife and scenery. £5.50 per pack of eight cards.
Buy the Calendar and Christmas Cards online (https://www.frp.org.uk/shop/)
Visitor Centre – information and opening hours (https://www.frp.org.uk/visitor-centre/)
Fish losses at Upper Pen Pond
Attendant birds Photograph: Nigel Jackman
Until the last week of September the fish in Pen Ponds had coped remarkably well with the stress of this year’s high temperatures and prolonged drought. Then the sudden death of the algae in Upper Pen Pond caused a depletion of oxygen in the water and the death of hundreds of fish, mainly jack (small) pike and carp. Immediate rescue efforts were made by the Royal Parks and an emergency order placed for aerating equipment. Unsurprisingly, large numbers of scavenging gulls, cormorants and herons were drawn to the scene. We understand there are similar issues in lakes/fisheries across the Southeast.
Autumn Bird Count
An impressive record eighty-one species were seen or heard on the fifteenth annual Autumn Bird Count performed by a group of bird enthusiasts on a sunny Saturday 26th September. Star bird of the day was the Merlin, a small and uncommon falcon. Other uncommon birds for the Park included Golden Plover, Great White Egret and Rook.