Richmond Park-Neraton Land


	It contains the Isabella Plantation, an important and attractive woodland garden and a major visitor attraction in its own right. There is a protected view of St Paul's Cathedral, which is 12 miles away, from King Henry VIII's Mound in the park.

It contains the Isabella Plantation, an important and attractive woodland garden and a major visitor attraction in its own right. There is a protected view of St Paul's Cathedral, which is 12 miles away, from King Henry VIII's Mound in the park. The Park also contains some notable buildings, ten of which, plus the whole wall of the park, are listed buildings. Pembroke Lodge and some associated houses stand in their own garden within the park. Pembroke Lodge was originally a home of 1st Earl Russell, and is now a restaurant. The Royal Ballet School has been based for many years at White Lodge where younger ballet students continue to be trained. The house was originally a hunting lodge for George I. There also four other houses, apart from the gate-houses: Thatched House Lodge, Holly Lodge (formerly Bog Lodge), White Ash Lodge and Oak Lodge. Holly Lodge contains a visitors’ centre (bookings only), the Park's administrative headquarters and a base for the Metropolitan Police's Royal Parks Operational Command Unit.


The park's open slopes and woods are based on lowland acid soils. The grassland is mostly managed by grazing. The park contains numerous woods and copses, many created with donations from members of the public. One such area is Queen Mother's Copse, a small triangular enclosure on the woodland hill halfway between Robin Hood Gate and Ham Gate, established in memory of the late Queen Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the Queen Mother. Another is Bone Copse which was named in 2005. It was started by the Bone family in 1988 by purchasing and planting a tree from the Park authorities in memory of Bessie Bone who died in that year. Trees have been added annually, and in 1994 her husband Frederick Bone also died. The annual planting has been continued by their children.


During King Edward's (1272-1307) reign the area was known as the Manor of Sheen. The name was changed to Richmond during Henry VII's reign. In 1625 Charles I brought his court to Richmond Palace to escape the plague in London and turned it into a park for red and fallow deer. His decision, in 1637, to enclose the land was not popular with the local residents, but he did allow pedestrians the right of way. To this day the walls remain, although they have been partially rebuilt and reinforced. In 1847 Pembroke Lodge became the home of the then Prime Minister, Lord John Russell and was later the childhood home of his grandson, Bertrand Russell. It is now a popular restaurant with glorious views across the Thames Valley. The Isabella Plantation is a stunning woodland garden which was created after World War II from an existing woodland, and is organically run, resulting in a rich flora and fauna. Richmond Park has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a National Nature Reserve.