Cyclists urged to slow down in London's Royal Parks
The survey, which was conducted in February and consulted 2,005 people.It found 72% regarded "people cycling without due care and attention" as the main concern as a pedestrian.Also 86% of people said the 20mph vehicle speed limit in central London should also apply to bicycles, which are currently exempt.The campaign will run through the spring and summer months.It is backed by a new code of conduct that all cyclists entering the parks should adhere to, regardless of whether they are commuting, exercising or exploring the parks recreationally, the charity said. New signage is also displayed across the Royal Parks in high-traffic areas, with a new cycling online hub on the charity's website.
'Behave better'
Darren Share, from The Royal Parks charity, said: "Cyclists must understand the impact their speed can have on others, which is why it is crucial that they comply with the park regulations, and we are asking people to stay within the vehicle speed limits in the parks."The safety of all visitors is our top priority. By encouraging cyclists to slow down, respect the park environment and be considerate of others, we hope to foster a culture of respect and a safer, more enjoyable experience for all park visitors whether on two feet or two wheels."Tom Fyans, from the London Cycling Campaign, added: "Paying attention to your speed when cycling is sensible and shows respect to others around you. "Everyone needs to be sensible, everyone needs to behave better, everyone should be safe - and The Royal Parks needs to keep the focus on reducing road danger for everyone."
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BBC News
15-06-2025
- BBC News
From coastal roots in East Yorkshire to living a Royal Park life
His passion started with a cacti collection in an East Yorkshire seaside town but it has led Matthew Pottage to the grandeur of London's historic Royal Parks and a new garden dedicated to Elizabeth II, as Jo Makel reports. They are among the most famous green spaces in the world – Hyde Park, St James's, Richmond and Regent's - names we know, even if we've never has eight Royal Parks and, as head of horticulture and landscape strategy, Matthew Pottage is the man who oversees what grows in them."The bones of the landscapes are amazing," he says. "The scale, the age and the history is so exciting."The 5,000 acres are varied. Some are sites of special scientific interest while others are immersive green spaces in the most central of city settings. With the BT Tower visible through the trees, we are breathing in the rain-enriched scent of the traditional Queen Mary rose garden in The Regent's Park, with its panoramic views of the London skyline, has oak trees which are almost 800 years old. Matthew's own history is partly why I have travelled down from East Yorkshire. His interest in gardening was inspired by his grandmother, growing houseplants and cacti in the coastal town of still pays regular visits to his home town. His parents live there and he enjoys introducing them to unusual plants, able to withstand the salt-laden winds and increasing winter he was a gardening star from an early trained at Bishop Burton College, near Beverley, where aged 17, he had his first experience of media attention as the youngest-ever finalist in the Young Horticulturalist of the Year his career soon flourished by becoming the Royal Horticultural Society's youngest curator at its flagship garden, Wisley and a regular expert on Radio 4's Gardener's Question Time. Still in his 30s, Matthew moved to the Royal Parks and a newly created role. Despite the name and history, they are charity funded – costing around £65m a year to manage with only 15% coming from Government."The charity saw an opportunity to improve the horticulture right across the parks so there is quite a pressure," says Matthew."And where you're not following someone who has already done it, you are forging your own way, building new relationships. It's a big challenge."But it is one he relishes, not least because he believes in the vital importance of green spaces in cities."Not everyone can afford their own garden or even balcony. And we knew through the Covid pandemic, people's need to be in nature and surrounded by plants is so important."We're understanding more the connection between nature and our mental health."Keen to make his own mark, Matthew has ambitions to introduce a wider range of plants as well as improve sustainability and resilience."The climate's changed a lot and that gives challenges and opportunities. We can surprise people and do things on a scale," he saysAnd it seems to be working with a Mediterranean garden, featuring huge succulents and giant-headed alliums, thriving in the capital's warm micro-climate. Arriving at the tennis courts we pause at a row of unassuming trial beds which line one side of the fence. But it's a new way of gardening for a special and other buildings have been demolished and a brownfield site in Regent's Park is being transformed into two acres of new garden dedicated to Elizabeth explains: "Rather than ship off all the concrete and all the hardcore that's on that site, we've crushed it, returned it into the soil and we're going to have quite a resilient garden embracing these materials.."Growing in crushed concrete means a really high pH, fierce drainage and there are some plants that are capable of growing successfully in it. But for peace of mind we wanted to do some tests ourselves."Resilient planting is one he feels reflects the late queen's character and other aspects of her life are planned too."She loved lily of the valley, it was in her wedding bouquet. She was a big fan of magnolia trees. And there will be exotic non-native plants to represent the Commonwealth." The project, announced in 2023, had already been designed and started before Matthew arrived but he's contributed to some of the Charles III has seen the plans and there's been input from the head gardeners at Buckingham Palace and Windsor is excited to see it come together in time for what would have been the late queen's 100th birthday next year."It's being part of a new legacy. The late queen was so significant and this is in central London. So for all of us, it's really quite a buzz." Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
08-06-2025
- BBC News
Deer photos released after return of the Greenwich Park herd
The first photographs of deer in Greenwich Park have been released a month after their return to the south-east London Park's herd of eight fallow and red deer returned in May after being relocated to Richmond Park four years ago so they were not disturbed during the building and renovation of community Royal Parks said the female deer would be more difficult to spot during the upcoming mating Stanier, park officer at Greenwich Park, said: "The deer are shy, anxious creatures. They like privacy. They like their little safe spaces." He added: "You have to stop and take stock of how elegant these creatures are and how wild - they're not used to interactions with humans."It's wonderful. It's such a pleasure to be able to walk through a paddock. It's reinvigorating, it's a magical experience." The herd's new home has access to nearby woodland and the natural habitat and has been enhanced with wildflower planting "to support wildlife, including birds and pollinators", according to the Royal deer remain in Richmond Park to diversify the herd's gene pool.
Scottish Sun
14-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Huge London park with one of UK's best playgrounds welcomes the first herd of deer in years
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) GREENWICH Park is now home to a herd of eight deer - which is the first time they've been in the paddock since 2021. The huge park with the new residents is also home to one of the UK's well-known playgrounds, which was built six years ago. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 A video has revealed deer are back in Greenwich Park Credit: Facebook/Greenwich park 4 Greenwich Park has been home to deer for years Credit: Alamy Deer have been reintroduced to Greenwich Park after being relocated to Richmond Park in 2021. Greenwich Park's herds of deer were moved four years ago so they were not disturbed during the restoration period. The animal sighting was put on social media and text along with the video said: 'The deer will be settling in over the next few weeks and therefore unlikely to be very visible – give them time and I'm sure you'll spot them soon!' One person commented: "Finally! I've been waiting for their return, excited to go and see them." Another added: "I loved going to the park every week as a child and seeing the deer... I'm now 56 and it'll be lovely to see them back." The return of the deer is one of the final phases in the Royal Parks' 'Greenwich Park Revealed' restoration. Works have been ongoing since 2021 and are now finishing up. Other additions and works have included the creation of a wildlife pond, tree planting, improved accessibility, new learning trails, and community facilities. One part of Greenwich that hasn't been part of the works, because it was built in 2019, is the play area. It welcomes more than 400,000 visitors every year - and it's completely free to enter and use. In 2019, Royal Parks built a natural playground in Greenwich Park for £350,000. The unique dinosaur attraction in a famous London park that is free to visit 4 Greenwich Park also has a new and updated playground Credit: Greenwich Park With a long history of playtime in the park going back to the 1940s, the Royal Parks decided to built a modern playground based on its maritime roots. It has sandpits and water play, as well as natural materials such as logs, rope and bark. It also has picnic tables and seating as well as a kiosk to buy drinks and snacks. Lots of parents have praised the updated playground with one writing: "The kids playground is fantastic and has a sandpit too. Lots of parking too if you want to drive , you get maximum 4 hours!" Another called it the "best playground in London". The entire restoration project has been £12million of investment with lots of aspects of the park being updated. The Grand Ascent has been improved by removing damaged trees and planting new, more resilient ones, as well as creating new meadows. The project also includes transforming the private Vanbrugh Yard into a new public space with a café, volunteer hub, community garden, and learning space. Greenwich is known as the place where 'time began' as it's where you'll find the Meridian Line. Other attractions in Greenwich include the Great Equatorial Telescope, the Cutty Sark ship, and the National Maritime Museum. Here's another huge new public park and play area to open in London will be the 'biggest in the city.' And this award-winning English park so exotic it feels like you're in Asia – and it's completely free.
