RICHMOND PARK

RICHMOND PARK

Richmond Park, extending over some 955 hectares (2,360 acres), is a heritage landscape of national importance. The Park was enclosed as a hunting park by Charles I in 1637 and still retains many ingredients of a medieval deer park. Essential to its character is the rich landscape of semi-natural acidic grassland, areas of bog and bracken, wetland, woodland and ancient parkland trees, and the herds of fallow and red deer that still roam the park. In 1992 the park was notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest by English Nature.Amenities * Pembroke Lodge - cafeteria (telephone 0208-940 8207) 1 November - 31 March: 10 am until 30 minutes before park closes 1 April - 31 October: weekdays 10 am - 5.30 pm, weekends 10 am - 7 pm * Pembroke Lodge - light music lunchtimes, early afternoons (Friday to Sunday, late June to end of August) * Kiosks - 10 am to 30 minutes before park closes * Golf courses restaurant - open all year from 8 am during daylight hours * Two public golf courses (for booking telephone 0208-876 3205) * Sailing model boats on the pond near Sheen Gate - beware, some of the banks are steep * Horse-riding (no stables or hiring facilities in the park) anywhere in the park up to 12 noon and after 6 pm (or till park closes), except for enclosed areas, footpaths and areas of mown grass. After these times, horse-riding must be confined to the roads, the riding tracks all around the park and the riding ring; also confined to tracks at all times when notices displayed. * Playground at Petersham Gate * Fishing on Pen Ponds (with licence) * Cycling on cycle tracks and al roads (except those closed by notice)Park opening times The park opens at 7.00 am in summer, 7.30 am in winter and closes at duskPark office Telephone: 0208-948 3209Postal address: Superintendent's Office, Holly Lodge, Bog Lodge Yard,Richmond Park, Surrey TW10 5H