Richmond Park is the site of the largest Olympic Rings of the 2012 Games, mown into the grass by the park's Shire Horses Murdoch and Jim.
The giant rings are 300 meters wide and over 135 meters tall and each ring is seven meters thick. They will be the first official London 2012 Olympic welcome that air passengers receive, before touching down in the UK this summer.
Assistant Park Manager, Adam Curtis, came up with the idea to create the huge rings to celebrate the upcoming London 2012 Games.
"I thought the giant rings would be a wonderful way to welcome visitors here for the Games so we got in touch with the London 2012 Organising Committee - and they loved it!" said Adam. "We are very proud to have been able to achieve such an effective representation of the Olympic symbol using our Shire Horses.
"Murdoch and Jim can manoeuvre the mower around tight corners, and regularly cut the grass here at Richmond Park - they are our secret weapon because they maintain the park without damaging the unique grassland and wildlife."
Shire horses have been used to maintain the park for many years as they are the best tool for rolling bracken, cutting grass and are especially useful during the winter when the ground is soft. Horses have worked in Richmond Park since at least 1637 when the park was enclosed as a royal hunting ground by Charles I.
The Rings are even doing the park a favour as cutting grass - and making hay - increases wildlife diversity and is a common way of managing a conservation area.
"We were very careful to make sure this work was carried out before skylarks nested so they were not affected," says Adam. "In fact we've seen them foraging, and heard them singing in the area, along with some Wheatear - so the birds are very happy."
Richmond Park will be welcoming sports enthusiasts from around the globe as it hosts part of the men's and women's Cycling Road Race route on 28 and 29 July. 11 Olympic and Paralympic events will take place across six Royal Parks during the London 2012 Games.
Richmond Park is the site of the largest Olympic Rings of the 2012 Games, mown into the grass by the park's Shire Horses Murdoch and Jim.
The giant rings are 300 meters wide and over 135 meters tall and each ring is seven meters thick. They will be the first official London 2012 Olympic welcome that air passengers receive, before touching down in the UK this summer.
Assistant Park Manager, Adam Curtis, came up with the idea to create the huge rings to celebrate the upcoming London 2012 Games.
"I thought the giant rings would be a wonderful way to welcome visitors here for the Games so we got in touch with the London 2012 Organising Committee - and they loved it!" said Adam. "We are very proud to have been able to achieve such an effective representation of the Olympic symbol using our Shire Horses.
"Murdoch and Jim can manoeuvre the mower around tight corners, and regularly cut the grass here at Richmond Park - they are our secret weapon because they maintain the park without damaging the unique grassland and wildlife."
Shire horses have been used to maintain the park for many years as they are the best tool for rolling bracken, cutting grass and are especially useful during the winter when the ground is soft. Horses have worked in Richmond Park since at least 1637 when the park was enclosed as a royal hunting ground by Charles I.
The Rings are even doing the park a favour as cutting grass - and making hay - increases wildlife diversity and is a common way of managing a conservation area.
"We were very careful to make sure this work was carried out before skylarks nested so they were not affected," says Adam. "In fact we've seen them foraging, and heard them singing in the area, along with some Wheatear - so the birds are very happy."
Richmond Park will be welcoming sports enthusiasts from around the globe as it hosts part of the men's and women's Cycling Road Race route on 28 and 29 July. 11 Olympic and Paralympic events will take place across six Royal Parks during the London 2012 Games.
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Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park, a ground breaking new concert series and outdoor experience from 5 July - 14 July 2013.
More things to do...A permanent memorial to honour the victims of the 7 July 2005 London Bombings was unveiled in Hyde Park by Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall.
More things to do...This unique Memorial to Diana, Princess of Wales was opened by Her Majesty The Queen on 6th July 2004 and was built with the best materials, talent and technology.
More things to do...Royal Gun Salutes mark special royal occasions. On these days salutes are fired from locations in London including Hyde Park and Green Park.
More things to do...Daily public swimming in The Serpentine from June - September. Serpentine Swimming Club swims every day, including the famous race on Christmas day.
More things to do...Rowing and pedal boats are available to hire on the Serpentine in Hyde Park. You can also take a ride on the UK's first Solarshuttle, powered only by the sun.
More things to do...The Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Walk is a seven-mile-long walk, charted by 90 plaques set in the ground, that takes you within sight of famous buildings and locations associated with the Princess during her life.
More things to do...
Richmond Park is the site of the largest Olympic Rings of the 2012 Games, mown into the grass by the park's Shire Horses Murdoch and Jim.
The giant rings are 300 meters wide and over 135 meters tall and each ring is seven meters thick. They will be the first official London 2012 Olympic welcome that air passengers receive, before touching down in the UK this summer.
Assistant Park Manager, Adam Curtis, came up with the idea to create the huge rings to celebrate the upcoming London 2012 Games.
"I thought the giant rings would be a wonderful way to welcome visitors here for the Games so we got in touch with the London 2012 Organising Committee - and they loved it!" said Adam. "We are very proud to have been able to achieve such an effective representation of the Olympic symbol using our Shire Horses.
"Murdoch and Jim can manoeuvre the mower around tight corners, and regularly cut the grass here at Richmond Park - they are our secret weapon because they maintain the park without damaging the unique grassland and wildlife."
Shire horses have been used to maintain the park for many years as they are the best tool for rolling bracken, cutting grass and are especially useful during the winter when the ground is soft. Horses have worked in Richmond Park since at least 1637 when the park was enclosed as a royal hunting ground by Charles I.
The Rings are even doing the park a favour as cutting grass - and making hay - increases wildlife diversity and is a common way of managing a conservation area.
"We were very careful to make sure this work was carried out before skylarks nested so they were not affected," says Adam. "In fact we've seen them foraging, and heard them singing in the area, along with some Wheatear - so the birds are very happy."
Richmond Park will be welcoming sports enthusiasts from around the globe as it hosts part of the men's and women's Cycling Road Race route on 28 and 29 July. 11 Olympic and Paralympic events will take place across six Royal Parks during the London 2012 Games.
