World-renowned Royal Parks, stunning stretches
of riverside and extravagantly planted public parks
and gardens combine to make Richmond upon
Thames the greenest and most beautiful borough
in London. In addition, it's the only London
borough to span both banks of the Thames.
The jewel in the crown is majestic Richmond
Park, with its gently rolling hills, ancient copses
and herds of free-roaming red and fallow deer,
a landscape which has changed a little from the
days of Charles I. From selected vantage points
within the largest of the Royal Parks it is possible
to view St Paul's Cathedral, the London Eye and
other iconic central London landmarks.
The borough boasts over 130 parks, commons
and woodlands which attract 5 million visitors
each year. The Council's Park Service continues to
upgrade our open spaces and play areas with new
equipment, park infrastructure and sustainable
planting schemes.
The Parks Team have been working on a number of
projects to improve play areas across the Borough.
Hounslow Health Play Area has a new activity trail,
play ponds and see-saw.
Ham Village Green and Hampton Common sites
have had their current outdoor gyms replaced with
new equipment before the end of June 2022.
The River Crane restoration trail will see the
natural riverbank restored to the section of the river
directly behind Craneford Way Recreation Ground
in Twickenham. An 18-metre-long backwater with
a natural bank will be created and a 6-metrewide backwater
Both features will benefit wildlife,
including fish.
In the Mereway Nature Reserve, The Environment
Agency are currently installing a fish pass between
the Duke of Northumberland and the River Crane
in Twickenham. This will allow fish to access parts
of the River Crane and enhance biodiversity in the
surrounding areas.
We have joined the Acts of Kindness Bench pilot
scheme (AOK Benches), this scheme sees benches
across London dedicated to help combat loneliness
and isolation. Benches have been placed in five
parks around the Borough with another twelve
locations planned throughout the coming months.
Since the last update the following projects have
been successfully delivered…
Kneller Gardens - Twickenham - Café
improvements works - The café run by the Youth
Enterprise Ltd has been refurbished to allow indoor
seating and community space. The café provides
training opportunities for young people to help them
gain full time employment.
Carlisle Park - Hampton & Moormead and Bandy
Recreation Ground - St Margaret's both had
new outdoor gym installed with several pieces of
equipment aimed at a wide range of users of all
abilities.
The Richmond Council Parks Team is working to
improve the impact, reach and quality of access
to parks and open spaces in the borough to
residents who experience barriers to access. The
model of accessible Friendly Parks for All has been
developed in consultation with several local care
charities in order to meet the needs of their clients.
The model includes:
• Additional seating and resting places
• Act of Kindness benches to encourage
conversations between park users
• Improved paths and improved access, entrance/
exit markers and a meeting point to aid
navigation and help orientate yourself within the
park
• Signage and routes marked with specially
designed way finders
• Sensory trails
The Terrace Gardens and Gothic Gardens in
Richmond, York House and Radnor Gardens in
Twickenham, and Carlisle Park and Hatherop
in Hampton are especially popular with visitors
where those looking for a more relaxed rural feel
can explore East Sheen Common Woods, Ham
Common or visit 'Barney' in Barn Elms. This huge
London Plane has a girth of 8.2m making it one of
the largest in London dating back to 1660s when
the Oriental and American Plane first came into
existence.
The Diamond Jubilee Gardens on Twickenham
Embankment is a popular site for community events
whilst Champions Wharf features Alexander Pope's
Urn his poetry inscribed in the surrounding wooden
seating, and let's not forget the play beach with its
Viking boat and historic river taxi.
great outdoors
Information correct at the time of going to print. Check websites for details.
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