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

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...

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.    

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...

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  

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...