How to make your park visit kinder to Richmond's wildlife

With the warm weather drawing more residents into Richmond's parks, the council has published a timely reminder about how to enjoy those spaces without harming the wildlife that shares them.

One of the most common habits worth reconsidering is feeding bread to ducks and geese. Bread offers little nutritional value to waterfowl and can cause problems for developing birds. Better alternatives include uncooked oats, unsalted cooked rice, bird seed mixes or unsalted nuts. Placing food directly into the water, rather than leaving it on paths or pavements, also helps keep the area tidy and discourages rats.

Fires and barbecues are strictly prohibited across all of Richmond's parks. During warm, dry spells, open flames pose a genuine fire risk and can scorch grass and damage the habitats that insects, birds and small mammals rely on. Disposable barbecues — which often look extinguished but retain heat for hours — are included in the ban.

The borough's parks range from the sweeping historic landscapes of Richmond Park and Bushy Park to smaller neighbourhood greens, many of which are part of the council's Friendly Parks for All accessible spaces scheme.

Full guidance is available on the Richmond Council website.