IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Kingsmead, RICHMOND, TW10 6HD

Footpath heading to the Cambrian Gate in Richmond Park

Only a small proportion of this grid-square - at its south-east corner - lies within Richmond Park. The area in question is a triangle of land immediately to the north and east of the Cambrian Road pedestrian gate. Along the margin of the Park is a belt of mature trees, well spaced. Species include sweet chestnut, beech, exotic oaks, and hornbeam. In this shot the tree nearest the camera is a beech. When leafless, as here in early March, the species can be recognised by its relatively smooth, pale grey bark (showing green in this shot, because of a growth of lichen). Richmond Park is a National Nature Reserve.

Only a small proportion of this grid-square - at its south-east corner - lies within Richmond Park. The area in question is a triangle of land immediately to the north and east of the Cambrian Road pedestrian gate. Along the margin of the Park is a belt of mature trees, well spaced. Species include sweet chestnut, beech, exotic oaks, and hornbeam. In this shot the tree nearest the camera is a hornbeam, Carpinus betulus. Light raking across the bark highlights the broad smooth ridges which give the species its common name. This is a big, rather stocky specimen. Richmond Park is a National Nature Reserve.

Taken from just outside the Cambrian Gate, a pedestrian gate into Richmond Park.

This path was made as a cycle path but after an incident of a dog being killed in a collision with a bike a supposed 10 mph limit was introduced (which was a tad harsh, I used to run faster than that on it). With a switch to mostly road bikes on the loop road this path is mainly used by runners with occasional cyclists and things are now fairly sensible.

Looking north-northeast.

When Richmond Park was first enclosed, by King Charles I, the Crown also commandeered a strip of land 16 feet 6 inches wide outside the Park wall. The primary purpose of this strip - the so-called freebord - seems to have been to allow passage along the wall for maintenance purposes. Over the course of centuries much of the freebord has been encroached upon, so that there are now few places where it is still constitutes a public passageway. One such place is here, off Chisholm Road, Richmond, where the freebord gives access to the Park via a pedestrian gate. The house on the right, built into the Park wall, is known as Bishop's Lodge - because once upon a time a gamekeeper called Bishop lived here.

There are a number of these handsome buildings along the west side of Queen's Road. Not all retain as much of the original exterior detailing as this pair.

In early March this pond attracts spawning frogs - fairly easy prey for this heron. The water level in the pond is low - and rubbish which might otherwise go unnoticed is in full view. Richmond Park is a National Nature Reserve.