Home - Friends of Bushy and Home Parks

About The Parks

Historically, the two parks were associated with Hampton Court Palace and the monarchs who resided there. The parks were hunting grounds for the pleasure of the monarchs and were stocked to support the palace’s residents. The parks have fascinating histories, and both are correctly described as Royal Parks.

These are deer parks, in which the wild deer herds roam freely. Bushy Park has two herds, Red deer and Fallow deer. Home Park has one herd of Fallow deer. The parks are habitats for many bird species and other animals. The dead wood in the parks is habitat for invertebrates, some of which are threatened and rare. Both parks are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and today their principal features are space, tranquility and unspoilt nature.

Who We Are

The “Friends of Bushy and Home Parks” is a charity dedicated to the protection, conservation, improvement and increased appreciation of the parks.

We are composed entirely of members, many of whom are volunteers. We have no employed and full-time staff. We work with The Royal Parks’ and with Historic Royal Palaces’ management teams to achieve our aims.

If you have never been to Bushy Park or Home Park, then you might want to start at the Visitor Centre to find out from our volunteers about these two fascinating parks.

News

Read All News

CAR PARKING CHARGES CONSULTATION

By David Meanwell / 18/09/2020

On Monday 7 September The Royal Parks are launching a public consultation on proposals to introduce car parking charges in all public car parks in Bushy and Richmond Parks. The consultation runs for 8 weeks and closes on 1 November. We encourage members and park visitors to comment directly to The Royal Parks through their link: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/managing-the-parks/consultations

BUSHY PARK SEPTEMBER 2020 DIARY

By David Meanwell / 03/09/2020

Deer Rut – advice for walkers The stags and bucks now support fully-grown antlers. They may be seen thrashing them about in the vegetation to build up their neck muscles, as towards the end of the month they will start establishing territories for the rut. The deer also indulge in dust wallows to assist the shedding of their summer coats as their winter ones grow through. They are vulnerable to disturbance during the rut and the large number of spectators can affect them. Recently the numbers of owners choosing to walk their dogs in Bushy Park has increased considerably. Deer...

2020 ANNUAL DEER CULL

By David Meanwell / 31/08/2020

The 2020 annual deer culls will be taking place in Bushy Park as follows: From 00:01am Wednesday morning 2 September 2020 for approximately 6 weeks From 00:01am Monday morning 2 November 2020 for approximately 6 weeks During these periods the vehicle gates will be locked each evening at 19.00 hrs, and the pedestrian gates at 22.30 hrs, Sunday to Thursday. All gates will be unlocked by 08:00hrs the following morning. (Opening will commence at 07.30 hrs but it can take up to 30 minutes for all gates to be unlocked.

Visitor Centre reopening

By David Meanwell / 28/08/2020

We are delighted that the Visitor Centre next to the Pheasantry Cafe in Bushy Park has now reopened. The hours will be 10 – 1 during September and October on as many days across the week as possible, depending on the weather and Volunteer availability. It will be an outside only opening (and therefore weather dependent) for the time being in order to keep visitors and volunteers as safe as possible but you will be able to seek information and advice from volunteers, pick up leaflets and purchase Greetings cards and other merchandise items, including the new Bushy and Home...

Bushy and Home Parks Calendar 2021

By David Meanwell / 28/08/2020

This calendar is now available for purchase (£6.50) at the Visitor Centre and online. The calendar contains lovely images contributed by visitors and members to the Parks. It is a wonderful reminder of how lovely the Parks are. The Visitor Centre is open during September and October from 10 – 1 on as many days across the week as possible, depending on the weather and Volunteer availability

BUSHY PARK UPDATE AND MOVEMENT STRATEGY

By admin-parks / 11/08/2020

Update: As referred to below, the formal trial for traffic in the park started on 15th August and will last for 6 months. This includes a restriction that prevents the park being used as a cut through. By closing the link between Teddington and Hampton Court Gates to traffic, The Royal Parks will create new park space for visitors within the centre of the park and will eliminate all commuting motor vehicle traffic. Visitors will still be able to drive to the park and the parking provision will be unaffected. The Pheasantry and Woodland Gardens can be accessed by car...

FEEDING DEER IS NOT KIND

By David Meanwell / 08/08/2020

The Royal Parks have issued this following press release regarding the feeding of deer by visitors to the Royal Parks and the damage that this feeding does. The deer undoubtedly look cute and can appear tame, but they are wild animals, and feeding them does not help them at all. Please heed the guidance given by the Royal Parks, and don’t be tempted to encroach on them, 6 August 2020 Feeding deer is the opposite of kind, says The Royal Parks The Royal Parks is reminding visitors to Richmond and Bushy Parks that deer are wild and unpredictable animals, following...

TRAFFIC IN BUSHY PARK

By David Meanwell / 02/08/2020

There has been a lot of comment on social media regarding the closure of Bushy Park to vehicles, and the subsequent partial opening for vehicles to give access to the car parks on weekdays. It shows that Bushy Park matters to people and is a strong feature in the lives of many. This is particularly good news for the Park and people look forward to a return to normal as soon as possible. Normal is not likely to be “as before” but is likely to be the normal that we will all get used to. It’s a normal that looks...

CAR PARKS REOPEN

By David Meanwell / 31/07/2020

The Royal Parks are opening the three car parks in Bushy Park beginning the weekend of 1 and 2 August. We hope this will allow enjoyment of the park by, among others, blue badge holders and families who have not been able to visit on weekdays. We hope visitors will be kind to your parks; please do not park badly or leave litter, and please continue to ensure social distancing. To remind visitors, car parking on roads, grasslands and verges is not allowed, and will be subject to fixed penalties issued by the police. No through traffic will be allowed...

BEE AWARE

By David Meanwell / 29/07/2020

Bushy Park bees killed by insecticide Two of the hives in Bushy Park which produce the honey sold at the park’s Visitor Centre by the Friends were subject to an unfortunate incident earlier this summer. The honey bees were killed off by an insecticide that was used in the near vicinity. The product is Fipronil and is sometimes used to professionally deal with infestations of insects such as fleas (including on animals by vets) or wasp’s nests. The analysis by Defra scientists, of the poisoning of the Bushy Park hives, points to a probability of the use of the insecticide...

Walks and Talks

Walks and Talks Calendar 2020 – Currently all are cancelled due to COVID-19

Friday 26 June	Walk: Hampton Court Gardens, Nursery and Kitchen garden
	Led by Gregory Leeson.	Meet at Lion Gate, 11 a.m.
Saturday 5 September	Walk: Bushy Park deer
	Led by John Locke.	Meet at Visitor Centre, 11 a.m.
Friday 9 October	Talk: How birds work
	Given by John Buckingham.	Normansfield Theatre, 8 p.m.
Saturday 31 October	Working session with Bushy Park’s Head Gardener
	Led by Sharon Evans.	Woodland Gardens,11 a.m.
Friday 6 November	Talk: A funny thing happened on the way to the potting shed
	Given by Nick Dobson.	Normansfield Theatre, 8 p.m.
Friday 4 December	Tree Pests and Diseases
	Given by Ana Perez.	Normansfield Theatre, 8 p.m.

Messages From Our Team

Welcome to our website

Welcome to our website. If you are visiting either of these two wonderful parks for the first time prepare to be delighted. They are natural spaces with centuries-old history and fascinating wildlife. I hope you will treat the parks with respect and, like us in the Friends, ensure they can be enjoyed for centuries to come. Colin Muid, Chair, FBHP.

If you love the parks

If you love the parks and you often tell others about the them, we want you to join us as a volunteer at our Visitor Centre. We are a friendly, helpful team and we enjoy telling visitors about the wildlife, history and secrets of the parks. You get a smart uniform, too. Rosemary MacColl, Volunteer Coordinator, FBHP.

Join the Friends

Join the Friends and help us to look after these parks. With more members our voice is stronger and we can achieve more. By the way, our membership fee is really quite low. Membership Secretary, FBHP.

Current Campaign

“You needed the parks, now they need you.”

Help us to continue our support of these two parks as the COVID-19 pandemic eases. Both park organisations have lost substantial revenues during the lockdown, due to Royal Parks’ event cancellations and Historic Royal Palaces closures. We want to help fund some of the parks’ modest projects which might otherwise be delayed by the substantial loss of income. If you have been a frequent or occasional user of the parks during lockdown, for your exercise and health, you may want to recognise it by giving something back. You can, by giving to our campaign.

Visitor Sightings

7 July 2020 – Home Park Rick Pond. Heard a Reed Warbler singing beautifully.

4 July 2020 – Home Park Long Water. Great Crested Grebe seen.

3 July 2020 – Bushy Park. Kestrel family and also a skylark.

2 July 2020 – Bushy Park. Common Whitethroats seen.

Shop

Visit the Shop

Visit the Shop >>

Bushy and Home Parks Calendar 2021
£6.50
This Friends of Bushy and Home Parks calendar contains 13 lovely images of the Parks contributed by visitors and Friends.

A4, wire bound with loop at the top for display, including envelope.
Add Item
Butterflies of Britain and Ireland (2nd Ed)
£4.00
This Field Studies Council guide covers all 60 butterflies in Britain and Ireland.
Add Item
Cotton Tote Bag
£5.00
A unique design to Bushy Park, this cotton tote bag is made of 100% cotton.

(380mm x 420mm)
Add Item
Insects of the British Isles
£3.30
A Field Studies Council guide which offers a visual identification guide to the main groups of insects on land and in water.
Add Item