A hot, dry Summer

The prolonged spell of hot and dry weather has been a challenge for Richmond Park. The risk of fire has been prevalent.

Tom Jarvis, Director of Parks at The Royal Parks, said:

“The Royal Parks continues to provide a welcome refuge for the capital’s residents.

The thousands of trees in the parks provide vital shade, cooling the atmosphere by several degrees, helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change. And the environment continues to provide a vital habitat for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife during this challenging summer.”

Watering in The Royal Parks was prioritised to where it was essential for the health of the parks, spot watering newly-planted trees and shrubs, and those showing signs of extreme stress.

The small amount of recent rain has made some difference, but much more is needed.

Launching our new booklet for children: Free history trail for families on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th September

Front cover photo: Tawny Owl © Bartek Olszewski

We are launching our new booklet for children Lets Discover Stories from Ancient Oak Trees of Richmond Park National Nature Reserve on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th September with a free history trail for families. Arrive any time between 10am and 12 noon.

Join us on a short trail based on the new booklet, exploring the amazing history of Richmond Park and the people who have lived here.

This is the second booklet in our ‘Let’s Discover’ series www.frp.org.uk/letsdiscoverbooklets, written for 7-11 year olds, and again features Olly the owl, now with his new family.

Volunteers will welcome you and you can choose to take part in an activity and see objects from the lives of people who lived here long ago.

Starting point: the Visitor Information Centre by Pembroke Lodge car park (free parking), where you can purchase the booklets. £2 for one or £3.50 for two. Please note that the Visitor Centre only accepts card payments.

Richmond Park Duathlon this Sunday

Over 2,500 participants are expected at the Duathlon https://limelightsports.club/event/london-duathlon-2022 in Richmond Park this Sunday. As noted in the Park diary, the Park’s roads (and car parks) will be closed to all traffic – including road cyclists who are not associated with the event. The Tamsin Trail will be closed to cyclists.

Parts of Richmond Park will be busier than normal, with the main concentration of people located in and near the official event village based near Roehampton Gate. More details are in the event map. https://limelightsports.club/files/2022/LD-all-routes.pdf

Pedestrians in the Park may however find some areas of the park away from the Duathlon particularly peaceful – though crossing the roads (busy with cyclists/runners) may not be straightforward.

The Friends will have a stall in the Event village.

Jersey Tiger moths

Jersey Tiger moth (c) Nigel Jackman

It has been the best year ever in the Park for Jersey Tiger moths. Once confined to a few parts of the country, these medium to large-sized day-flying moths have been spreading in recent years and are to be seen between July and early September.  With creamy white stripes on their forewings, they possess bold orange or sometimes red underwings, particularly noticeable in flight.  They have been spotted at Thatched House Lodge (ten on one day), Pembroke Lodge, Holly Lodge, Isabella Plantation and elsewhere, often feeding on hemp agrimony and a variety of flowers. Next year’s brood will overwinter as small larvae.

Hearsum Collection Events

The Hearsum Collection is holding a series of one day exhibitions which will take place once a month for six months beginning this month. These events are free to attend and view anytime 11am – 2pm and will be held in The Belvedere at Pembroke Lodge.

Each exhibition will start with a talk by Sue Barber, the Collection Curator, at 11am who will give a talk on the exhibition subject.

Monday 12th September    Commemoration and Celebration in The Royal Parks

Monday 10th October         Animals in The Royal Parks

Monday 7th November       Military in The Royal Parks

Monday 5th December        Sports and Leisure through the years in The Royal Parks

Monday 2nd January          Lost Buildings of The Royal Parks

Monday 6th February          Quirky and Unusual Events in The Royal Parks

Darcey Bussell revisits While Lodge in Richmond Park for Channel Four

As part of celebrating HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Darcey Bussell followed in the footsteps of The Queen in her Channel Four programme Darcey Bussell’s Royal Road Trip. This included visiting White Lodge in Richmond Park where Darcey learnt of its appearance on The Queen’s birth certificate. This little known fact will already be known to readers of the Friends Spring 2022 Newsletter. www.frp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/2022-Spring.pdf. The programme is still available (but only for one more week) on Channel Four catch up. https://www.channel4.com/programmes/darcey-bussells-royal-road-trip/on-demand/73524-002

Visitor Centre from 8 September

Coming soon to the Visitor Centre.

A new Friends of Richmond Park 500 piece Isabella plantation jigsaw in an eco friendly cotton bag £12.

A new Friends of Richmond Park 30 piece children’s jigsaw in an eco friendly cotton bag £8.

Available from 8th September – only at the Visitor Centre.