The Royal Green Lungs of London.

The Royal Parks are famously called “the lungs of London” but they are also its heart. There are eight of them in all, and every one is open to the public. In the first of a 2-part feature we look into the rich historical background of some of the most famous urban parks in the world...

The Royal Parks of London are lands that were originally used for the recreation, mostly hunting, of the Royal Family. They are part of the hereditary possessions of The Crown, now managed by The Royal Parks Limited, a charity which overlooks eight Royal Parks and certain other areas of parkland in London.

The charity now manages these 5,000 historic acres across the capital, running education programmes and activities while raising funds to support its important work on conservation and biodiversity.

Today, the Royal Parks are the most famous collection of urban parks in the world - and it is easy to see why. Their rich histories are woven all around their majestic tree avenues, bright ower beds, historic monuments and abundance of wildlife.

LONDON’S LARGEST GREEN SPACE

Richmond Park, in the London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames, is the largest of London’s Royal Parks and is of national and international importance for wildlife conservation. It was created by King Charles I in the 17th century as a deer park.

It is now a National Nature Reserve, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a European Special Area of Conservation and is included, at Grade I, on Historic England’s Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England.

Its landscapes have inspired many famous artists and it has been a location for several films and T series. Richmond Park includes many buildings of architectural or historic interest. The Grade I-listed White Lodge was formerly a Royal residence and is now home to the Royal Ballet School.