Improvements to Bushy Park

Work on a number of projects has already taken place:

NEW TREES, AND BETTER ACCESS AND INFRASTRUCTURE

More than 1000 new trees have been planted within the Park and other essential horticultural and maintenance work has been completed, such as the introduction of new fencing, new paths and improvements to path networks. To improve access, adjustment of gateways within the Park walls has also taken place, and Church Grove Gate at Hampton Wick rebuilt, complete with a new ramp.

EDUCATION PROGRAMME

An expanded education programme to provide more activities for primary and secondary schools has been introduced, including discovery days and school assemblies on the natural environment. New community projects include family activity weeks, heritage self-guidedtrails and volunteering opportunities.

THE WOODLAND GARDENS

These landscaped gardens are of a traditional 20th century design and include the Waterhouse Plantation and the Pheasantry Plantation. Essential maintenance work has been completed, which together with new planting, improvements to water courses and fencing, and new path layouts, enhances the overall look of the Woodland Gardens.

THE STOCKYARD EDUCATION CENTRE

The redeveloped education centre provides better facilities for the education team and volunteers, which in turn will help involve a greater number of people in Bushy Park's activities.

THE BREW HOUSE

This early 18th century building once provided ale for the household and workers on the Upper Lodge estate as ale was safer to drink than water. The Brew House has now been restored, and an access bridge built over the Longford River, to link The Brew House with the Water Gardens. The possibility of establishing an onsite micro-brewery in the restored building is now being explored.

All other projects are due for completion by the end of 2009:

THE PHEASANTRY WELCOME CENTRE

The new centre will house much-needed facilities for visitors including a café, public toilets, an education and community room, and small information point. A new car park is being built within the Broom Clumps which will replace the Upper Lodge car park.

DIANA FOUNTAIN

This magnificent 17th century fountain was the centrepiece of Sir Christopher Wren's grand approach to Hampton Court Palace. The design is attributed to Inigo Jones and is often referred to as the 'Diana' Fountain after the Roman goddess of hunting. The statue may actually represent Arethusa, a nymph in Greek mythology. The fountain will be cleaned, repaired and returned to full working order.

UPPER LODGE WATER GARDENS

The Water Gardens were created in the early 18th century by Charles Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax, as part of his residence, Upper Lodge. Building on research undertaken by the Friends of Bushy and Home Parks, the gardens will be restored to their former splendour and open to the public in summer 2009.

IMPROVING BIODIVERSITY

Bushy Park is home to a vast array of wildlife and plants and improving biodiversity throughout the Park is an ongoing priority for The Royal Parks. As well as woodland areas, waterways and historic veteran trees, the Park has about 130 hectares of ancient deer-grazed Lowland Acid Grassland, which supports important populations of ground-nesting birdssuch as Skylark, Reed Bunting, Meadow Pipit and Stonechat. The grasslands are also important for butterflies, moths, spiders, beetlesand other invertebrates. A key feature of the current conservation work is the improvement of waterside habitats including the de-silting of water bodies throughout the Park andthe introduction of native aquatic plants, which will benefit freshwater invertebrates, fish and amphibians. Improvements will be made to riverbanks to provide feeding areas and safe passage for wildlife.