The Royal Parks urges visitors ‘to take extra care’ during the heatwave
The Royal Parks charity has issued an urgent ‘care alert’ to all visitors ahead of the heatwave this week urging everyone to stay safe by taking shade, staying out of the ponds and lakes and helping to prevent wildfires.
The charity, which manages London’s eight Royal Parks, is expecting to welcome bumper numbers of Londoners and visitors from further afield to the parks, to seek respite and shade beneath the cooling treescape as they escape the searing heat of the capital. This follows the recent yellow heat health alert from the UK Health Security Agency*.
The dry grassland, bracken and deadwood habitats across the parks present a high risk of fire spreading. This is particularly concerning this summer given that this spring has been a double record breaker as the warmest and sunniest on record**.
Visitors are reminded that:
- BBQs and open fires are strictly prohibited in all Royal Parks.
- Cigarette butts must be fully extinguished and disposed of safely.
- Litter, especially glass, must be placed in bins or taken home if bins are full — glass bottles can focus sunlight and ignite fires.
Paul Richards, Park Manager for Richmond Park, said:
“To keep visitors and wildlife safe, BBQs are not allowed in any area of any park. Sadly, it only takes one falling ember onto dry grass to start a terrible fire, which can risk lives and devastate the environment, destroying wildlife.
“Please take care of yourselves, others and your environment by leaving your BBQs at home.”
Visitors are also reminded that swimming in any pond, lake or waterbody within the Royal Parks is forbidden apart from in the Serpentine Lido during designated public swimming sessions.
Deon de Jager, The Royal Parks’ Head of Health and Safety, added:
“It is understandable that people are seeking to stay cool in this hot weather but please remember to stick to only swimming in the Lido during opening times, in order to prevent an awful incident.
“During designated public swimming sessions, the Lido is always manned with qualified lifeguards and support staff, and there are several ways swimmers can help themselves to stay safe. People should never enter the water after drinking alcohol, should stay strictly within the marked parameters of the Lido, ensure all children are supervised, minimise the time they spend in direct sunlight and speak to a member of staff if they feel unwell.”
*First yellow heat-health alert of 2025 issued for 4 regions - GOV.UK
**Double record breaker: Spring 2025 is warmest and sunniest on UK record - Met Office
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