During the Second World War, Bushy Park was home to a sprawling military base. This is where General Dwight D. Eisenhower came to work on a top-secret plan called ‘Operation Overlord’.  

On 6 June 1944, after months of preparation, the plan was ready – 156,000 Allied troops invaded Normandy, some landing on the beaches and others arriving by air. Now known as D-Day, this event ultimately led to the defeat of Nazi Germany.  

And so much of it was planned right here in the park. Listen on to learn more about this amazing piece of history. 

Support the show

Support the show: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/support

About The Royal Parks:

The Royal Parks is the charity that exists to make sure London’s eight historic royal parks will always be there to enrich the lives of local residents and visitors to London.

The charity looks after eight of London’s largest open spaces: Hyde Park, The Green Park, Richmond Park, Greenwich Park, St James’s Park, Bushy Park, The Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill, and Kensington Gardens.

For more information visit www.royalparks.org.uk

Follow The Royal Parks on X (14) The Royal Parks (@theroyalparks) / X, Facebook.com/TheRoyalParksLondon and Instagram.com/TheRoyalParks

In this episode, join our own Charlie Linton as he takes a walk in London’s Hyde Park with one of the UK’s most prominent young birdwatchers, Dr Mya-Rose Craig. Charlie and Mya-Rose visit some of the wetland and woodland habitats of the park to discover many of the wonderful birds that live and forage in the Royal Parks, and chat about all things bird and nature related.

You can follow along the same route using our handy map with photos of the birds we spot. The route sticks to paths so is suitable for buggies and wheelchair users. The entire route is approximately 1.3 miles (2.1km).

The activities of The Royal Parks’ Help Nature Thrive project, including this podcast, have been made possible thanks to the support of the wonderful players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Dr Mya-Rose Craig can be found at https://www.birdgirluk.com/

Support the show

Support the show: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/support

About The Royal Parks:

The Royal Parks is the charity that exists to make sure London’s eight historic royal parks will always be there to enrich the lives of local residents and visitors to London.

The charity looks after eight of London’s largest open spaces: Hyde Park, The Green Park, Richmond Park, Greenwich Park, St James’s Park, Bushy Park, The Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill, and Kensington Gardens.

For more information visit www.royalparks.org.uk

Follow The Royal Parks on X (14) The Royal Parks (@theroyalparks) / X, Facebook.com/TheRoyalParksLondon and Instagram.com/TheRoyalParks

In this episode join Anna Barry and Scott Smith live from St James's Park as they bring you all the highlights of the big day. They speak with those coming to the park to view the action, describe the Coronation Procession and chat with The Household Cavalry Museum and Commanding Officer of The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery.

Support the show

Support the show: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/support

About The Royal Parks:

The Royal Parks is the charity that exists to make sure London’s eight historic royal parks will always be there to enrich the lives of local residents and visitors to London.

The charity looks after eight of London’s largest open spaces: Hyde Park, The Green Park, Richmond Park, Greenwich Park, St James’s Park, Bushy Park, The Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill, and Kensington Gardens.

For more information visit www.royalparks.org.uk

Follow The Royal Parks on X (14) The Royal Parks (@theroyalparks) / X, Facebook.com/TheRoyalParksLondon and Instagram.com/TheRoyalParks

In this episode we explore what it takes to prepare the Royal Parks for events like the Coronation. We hear how it feels to have the eyes of the world on your work and learn how we make the parks look their best all year round. We also take you on a virtual walk down the grand processional route that is The Mall - pointing out items of interest along the way.

Support the show

Support the show: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/support

About The Royal Parks:

The Royal Parks is the charity that exists to make sure London’s eight historic royal parks will always be there to enrich the lives of local residents and visitors to London.

The charity looks after eight of London’s largest open spaces: Hyde Park, The Green Park, Richmond Park, Greenwich Park, St James’s Park, Bushy Park, The Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill, and Kensington Gardens.

For more information visit www.royalparks.org.uk

Follow The Royal Parks on X (14) The Royal Parks (@theroyalparks) / X, Facebook.com/TheRoyalParksLondon and Instagram.com/TheRoyalParks

This time we're looking back at previous Coronations, exploring how the parks have been involved in these over the centuries – and we also chat to someone who attended the last Coronation in 1953.

Support the show

Support the show: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/support

About The Royal Parks:

The Royal Parks is the charity that exists to make sure London’s eight historic royal parks will always be there to enrich the lives of local residents and visitors to London.

The charity looks after eight of London’s largest open spaces: Hyde Park, The Green Park, Richmond Park, Greenwich Park, St James’s Park, Bushy Park, The Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill, and Kensington Gardens.

For more information visit www.royalparks.org.uk

Follow The Royal Parks on X (14) The Royal Parks (@theroyalparks) / X, Facebook.com/TheRoyalParksLondon and Instagram.com/TheRoyalParks

Join Anna Barry and Scott Smith as they explore the history and tradition of coronations in the parks – past and present.

Support the show

Support the show: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/support

About The Royal Parks:

The Royal Parks is the charity that exists to make sure London’s eight historic royal parks will always be there to enrich the lives of local residents and visitors to London.

The charity looks after eight of London’s largest open spaces: Hyde Park, The Green Park, Richmond Park, Greenwich Park, St James’s Park, Bushy Park, The Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill, and Kensington Gardens.

For more information visit www.royalparks.org.uk

Follow The Royal Parks on X (14) The Royal Parks (@theroyalparks) / X, Facebook.com/TheRoyalParksLondon and Instagram.com/TheRoyalParks

In this episode, recorded for National Tree Week, Community Learning Officer Laura Ashfield talks to tree expert and arboriculturist Greg Packman whose knowledge of and passion for trees is unmatched. Together they chat about his favourite trees in the park, finding out what makes them special and also uncover some of the traditional myths and folklore that surrounds some of our most beloved tree species. 

About The Royal Parks: 

The Royal Parks is the charity that exists to make sure London’s eight historic royal parks will always be there to enrich the lives of local residents and visitors to London. 

The charity looks after eight of London’s largest open spaces: Hyde Park, The Green Park, Richmond Park, Greenwich Park, St James’s Park, Bushy Park, The Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill, and Kensington Gardens. 

For more information visit www.royalparks.org.uk 

Follow The Royal Parks on social media:

Twitter @TheRoyalParks

Facebook @TheRoyalParksLondon 

Instagram @TheRoyalParks

Support the show:

https://www.royalparks.org.uk/support-the-parks

Support the show

Support the show: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/support

About The Royal Parks:

The Royal Parks is the charity that exists to make sure London’s eight historic royal parks will always be there to enrich the lives of local residents and visitors to London.

The charity looks after eight of London’s largest open spaces: Hyde Park, The Green Park, Richmond Park, Greenwich Park, St James’s Park, Bushy Park, The Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill, and Kensington Gardens.

For more information visit www.royalparks.org.uk

Follow The Royal Parks on X (14) The Royal Parks (@theroyalparks) / X, Facebook.com/TheRoyalParksLondon and Instagram.com/TheRoyalParks

In this summer special, Learning Manager and music fan Richard Pering takes a look at the amazing concerts which have taken place in Hyde Park over the years. From Pink Floyd and The Rolling Stones in the 1960's, all the way up to the last British Summer Time in 2019, before the 2020 and 2021 gigs were cancelled due to the pandemic.

Joining him on his musical quest is someone who knows more than a little about how to host the world's biggest bands, Jess Chambers, Events Communications Manager for The Royal Parks. 

Jess takes us behind the scenes look at these events, the history of how they came to be held here, and what it takes to make them happen, as well as why she can sometimes be found back stage, other times walking through the streets around the park to see what she can hear...


About The Royal Parks: 

The Royal Parks is the charity that exists to make sure London’s eight historic royal parks will always be there to enrich the lives of local residents and visitors to London. 

The charity looks after eight of London’s largest open spaces: Hyde Park, The Green Park, Richmond Park, Greenwich Park, St James’s Park, Bushy Park, The Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill, and Kensington Gardens. 

For more information visit www.royalparks.org.uk 

Follow The Royal Parks on social media:

Twitter @TheRoyalParks

Facebook @TheRoyalParksLondon 

Instagram @TheRoyalParks

Support the show:

https://www.royalparks.org.uk/support-the-parks

Support the show

Support the show: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/support

About The Royal Parks:

The Royal Parks is the charity that exists to make sure London’s eight historic royal parks will always be there to enrich the lives of local residents and visitors to London.

The charity looks after eight of London’s largest open spaces: Hyde Park, The Green Park, Richmond Park, Greenwich Park, St James’s Park, Bushy Park, The Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill, and Kensington Gardens.

For more information visit www.royalparks.org.uk

Follow The Royal Parks on X (14) The Royal Parks (@theroyalparks) / X, Facebook.com/TheRoyalParksLondon and Instagram.com/TheRoyalParks

In this episode, host Kristen Mueller delves into the many ways that we can help nature in the parks thrive. To help her she’s joined by our Biodiversity Manager Peter Lawrence and Volunteer Officer Jo Hayward.

Peter is the person whose wide ranging job it is to promote the flourishing of plants and wildlife in all eight Royal Parks. Here he talks about habitat creation, wildlife conservation and how the parks can thrive as both havens for wildlife and for human recreation. 

Jo, as her job title suggests, helps coordinate our brilliant Volunteer Rangers who carry out a vital role in the parks, keeping visitors informed about the parks and their wildlife. Jo tells us all about the deer in Richmond & Bushy parks and how best to enjoy them – by giving them space.

About The Royal Parks: 

The Royal Parks is the charity that exists to make sure London’s eight historic royal parks will always be there to enrich the lives of local residents and visitors to London. 

The charity looks after eight of London’s largest open spaces: Hyde Park, The Green Park, Richmond Park, Greenwich Park, St James’s Park, Bushy Park, The Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill, and Kensington Gardens. 

For more information visit www.royalparks.org.uk 

Follow The Royal Parks on social media:

Twitter @TheRoyalParks

Facebook @TheRoyalParksLondon 

Instagram @TheRoyalParks

Support the show

Support the show: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/support

About The Royal Parks:

The Royal Parks is the charity that exists to make sure London’s eight historic royal parks will always be there to enrich the lives of local residents and visitors to London.

The charity looks after eight of London’s largest open spaces: Hyde Park, The Green Park, Richmond Park, Greenwich Park, St James’s Park, Bushy Park, The Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill, and Kensington Gardens.

For more information visit www.royalparks.org.uk

Follow The Royal Parks on X (14) The Royal Parks (@theroyalparks) / X, Facebook.com/TheRoyalParksLondon and Instagram.com/TheRoyalParks

In this episode, recorded for National Gardening Week, host Laura McMahon talks to Tayshan Hayden-Smith and Danny Clarke of charity Grow2Know. Tayshan, a lifelong resident of the community around Grenfell Tower, founded the charity in 2017 to bring residents together through the power of collective action, creating green spaces in the community designed to uplift and unify. Danny Clarke, AKA The Black Gardener, is a garden designer and TV presenter as well as being a Director of Grow2Know. Together they discuss the importance of horticulture to physical and mental health, the difficulties faced by people of diverse backgrounds in a mainly white and often affluent-seeming industry, how to make it appeal to all and how they’re building an RHS Chelsea garden in honour of the Mangrove 9.

About The Royal Parks: 

The Royal Parks is the charity that exists to make sure London’s eight historic royal parks will always be there to enrich the lives of local residents and visitors to London. 

The charity looks after eight of London’s largest open spaces: Hyde Park, The Green Park, Richmond Park, Greenwich Park, St James’s Park, Bushy Park, The Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill, and Kensington Gardens. 

For more information visit www.royalparks.org.uk 

Follow The Royal Parks on Twitter @theroyalparks, Facebook.com/TheRoyalParksLondon and Instagram.com/TheRoyalParks

Support the show (https://www.royalparks.org.uk/support-the-parks)

Support the show (https://www.royalparks.org.uk/support-the-parks)

Support the show (https://www.royalparks.org.uk/support-the-parks)

Support the show

Support the show: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/support

About The Royal Parks:

The Royal Parks is the charity that exists to make sure London’s eight historic royal parks will always be there to enrich the lives of local residents and visitors to London.

The charity looks after eight of London’s largest open spaces: Hyde Park, The Green Park, Richmond Park, Greenwich Park, St James’s Park, Bushy Park, The Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill, and Kensington Gardens.

For more information visit www.royalparks.org.uk

Follow The Royal Parks on X (14) The Royal Parks (@theroyalparks) / X, Facebook.com/TheRoyalParksLondon and Instagram.com/TheRoyalParks