The Queen's visit to Richmond Park on May 15 will see a new Jubilee Pond being created in her honour and to commemorate her Diamond Jubilee.
Sir David Attenborough, Patron of the local charity the Friends of Richmond Park, will dig the first spade of earth and hand over the pond to The Royal Parks (which manages Richmond Park) for completion.
Located on the road from Sheen Cross to the Royal Ballet School, the pond is next to the area of the community celebrations which The Queen will visit during the Wild London Jubilee event, which will be held on Richmond Park’s sports fields on May 15.
The aim of the new pond is to create a freshwater habitat for a range of species including invertebrates, amphibians, birds and bats. It also aims to retain water in the Park, to help to counteract the effects of climate change.
Jubilee Pond joins other commemorative royal features in the Park: two Coronation Plantations (for Edward VII in1902 and the present Queen in 1953); King George V’s Jubilee Plantation; Queen Mother’s Copse and Prince Charles’ Spinney.
The Jubilee Pond will cost £10 - 15,000 to construct. Core funding for the pond is being provided by Healthy Planet, the conservation charity, who will match pound for pound all donations made through the public appeal.
The Friends of Richmond Park has also launched a public appeal for the entire Ponds and Streams Conservation Programme and they have initially contributed £40-50,000 of funding towards the target of £200-300,000 for the whole programme.
Jubilee Pond is the first project in the Ponds and Streams Conservation Programme, in which the Friends will be working with staff from The Royal Parks to restore many of the ponds and streams over the next 2-3 years. There are more than 30 ponds in Richmond Park and miles of streams running through the Park.
To contribute to the public appeal, visit www.frp.org.uk/ponds-and-streams or www.healthyplanet.org/jubileepond
For media and photo enquiries about the Ponds and Streams Programme, Jubilee Pond and its inauguration on May 15, contact Ron Crompton:
Tel: 020 8876 1123
Mobile: 07710 405 079
Email: ron.crompton@frp.org.uk
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