20 Oct 2003 - 01 Jan 2004
"Hogweeds School of Wildlife Wizardry" comes to Richmond Park
Richmond Park

This half-term, children and their families are invited to attend "Hogweeds School of Wildlife Wizardry"! They will be able to come face to face with some magical wildlife in Richmond Park on Wednesday 29th October between 11am and 2pm at the Roehampton Pavilion Cafè, which is situated by Roehampton gate.

During the event, organised by Wildlife for All, children can go on an owl prowl led by one of the wildlife wizards, turn a tree into a mini-beast, compose a wild wizard spell and much more.

There will be cloaked helpers on hand to teach young would-be wildlife wizards how owls catch their prey and to help dissect some owl pellets (containing indigestible material which owls cough up) to find out what owls have been eating. Children will have the chance to make their own magical minibeast out of natural materials after looking at some of the real live mini-creatures that Richmond Park is home to.

Any child completing all the wildlife wizarding lessons will get a certificate to show they are fully-fledged wildlife wizards.

All the activities are free and children need to be accompanied by an adult or carer.

The lessons are aimed at children between the ages of 5 and 10 but anybody with an interest in wildlife is welcome.

For more details call the Wildlife for All team on 020 7935 7430 or e-mail: wildlifeforall@royalparks.gsi.gov.uk

Journalists and press photographers are welcome at the event between 11.30 - 12.30 pm

Source:
Joint

Contact:
Emma Wilson, Tel. +44 (0)20 7935 7430 Mobile: +44 (0)7970 406 637
Editor's notes:
Wildlife for All is a three-year partnership project between The Royal Parks and RSPB funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Its aims are to bring a wide variety of people and communities across London, closer to their local wildlife in the Royal Parks. Wildlife for All is running a diverse range of exciting and innovative activities for the general public, community groups and schools.

The eight Royal Parks are: Bushy Park, Green Park, Greenwich Park, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens (with Brompton Cemetery) Regent's Park (with Primrose Hill), Richmond Park and St James's Park. Millions of Londoners and tourists visit the eight Royal Parks each year. The 5.000 acres of carefully preserved historic parkland provide unparalleled opportunities for enjoyment, exploration and healthy living in the heart of the capital.

Richmond Park is the largest open space in London and a heritage landscape of national importance. The Park was enclosed as a hunting park by King Charles I in 1637 and still retains many ingredients of a mediaeval deer park. Essential to its character is the rich landscape of grassland, areas of bog and bracken, wetland, woodland and ancient parkland trees, and the herds of fallow and red deer that still roam the park. The discovery of more than 200 species of beetle was instrumental in Richmond Park being designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. In 2000 the Park was also designated a National Nature Reserve.