Sporting Events and Road Closures
Allof the park roads and vehicle gates will be closed to all traffic including cyclists on Sunday 14 September to facilitate the London Duathlon, a running and cycling event.
On Saturday 18 October there will also be a partial road closure for part of the day between Roehampton Gate and Kingston Gate and traffic diversions for a short period between Kingston and Ham Gates for a women-only running event.
Reminder- Deer Rut - Advice for Walkers
Deer are wild animals and can be unpredictable. Richmond Park is a Nature Reserve with herds of wild deer roaming freely. Deer can feel threatened by people and dogs even over long distances. This is particularly true during the rutting which starts in September and continues into October. We recommend keeping at least 50m from deer and give them the respect and space they need during the rut.
Rhododendron Clearance
Now that the bird nesting season is drawing to an end, the winter Rhododendron clearance work will continue in Sidmouth Wood, Pen Ponds Plantation and Isabella Plantation.
Contractors and volunteers clear and burn this dense shrub to restore the woodlands to the benefit of native wildlife.
Rhododendron is a non-native shrub that supports very little wildlife and dominates the understory of woodlands. It changes the soil and microclimate of woodlands that can adversely affect other tree species
Owls
Two species of owls are resident all year round in Richmond Park and present in good numbers. The most common species in the park is the Little Owl, often seen at night sitting on the roadside posts, then flying off when they detect a cyclist or car approaching. They feed on short grass, looking for worms, insects or small mammals and were introduced to the UK in the 19 th century. The Tawny Owl is larger bird and frequents woodlands. Although seldom seen its familiar 'twit-twoo' call is often heard at dusk and into the night. It feed on small mammals and even catches bats.
