Richmond
Park covers about 955 hectares (2,360 acres).
It was set up as a hunting park by Charles I in
1637 and still retains many ingredients of a medieval
deer park (some deer, for instance).
My
frightened wife
It's got a landscape of semi-natural acidic grassland,
areas of bog and bracken, wetland, woodland and
ancient parkland trees, not to mention herds of
fallow and red deer roaming free. Yes - untethered.
This terrifies the wife, who likes animals to
be enclosed, or at least restrained. Just in case.
Your
Fencemaster was cycling through Richmond Park
early one morning, admiring the last few visible
stars, and noting a particularly bright Venus
to the North. Imagine my surprise when it proceeded
to land at Heathrow Airport.
In
1992 the park was notified as a Site of Special
Scientific Interest by English Nature.
Controversy
In real life it's usually full of cars, but has
no pedestrian crossings at all, and there's
dog poo everywhere as well.
Play area goes walkabout
A few years ago a children's play area was moved
from the tiny dog-free area at the behest of locals
living in huge detached houses adjacent to the
park. 'The children are too noisy' they
said. The play area is now right next to a busy
car park and is, of course, inadequately fenced
so dogs can get in and children out. Well done
Richmond Park. Charles I would be turning in his
grave. Would he? Probably not.
If
you visit Richmond Park be sure to drive, and
don't get out of the car.
Click
here to continue.
Tell
your friends about this page
