RICHMOND PARK - A NATIONAL TREASURE (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

RICHMOND PARK - A NATIONAL TREASURE

9:26pm Sunday 17th July 2011

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For me any fine day is a good time to be out of doors and even with the somewhat changeable weather we have been having there have been plenty of opportunities to get out and see what other gardens are like and how other gardeners go about things. This week we went to Richmond Park. Not too far to drive and well worth any effort it took to get there. It is possible to drive round the edge of the park so with a little planning those not so good at walking can have stopping places and cups of tea or coffee. The park covers almost 2,500 acres and is the largest Royal Park in London. There is reckoned to be about 650 free roaming deer, both Red and Fallow. These animals are really tame and it didn’t bother them in the slightest when we stopped to see them more closely. Richmond Park is steeped in history and has been a pleasure ground for various monarchs through the ages. The ancient oak trees date back to the late Middle Ages, many are over 400 years old and incredibly several more are over 750 years. On a more modern note and of particular interest to gardeners is the Isabella Plantation, a woodland garden planted after World War II. It is an enchanting place with ponds, streams with stepping stones, woodland glades and exotic plants. Of particular note is the collection of Kurume azaleas which are a blaze of colour in the spring. Year round interest is provided by magnolias, camellias, rhododendrons, iris, day lilies, maples, heathers, mahonia and witch hazels – enough to keep any gardener happy whenever he or she goes. We had a sandwich lunch at Pembroke Lodge where we were lucky enough to enjoy the sunshine as well as the stunning views over the Thames Valley. Richmond Park is a wonderful place for a family day out. There are playgrounds as well as a programme of activities for children. Walkers can take advantage of the peace and quiet by getting away from the roads, cyclists are encouraged and everyone can enjoy the rich birdlife and wildlife that thrive in this beautiful place.

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