Despite an intensive urbanisation London has maintained some large areas within the city boundaries as green spaces for all to appreciate nature and take a break from the traffic and the hectic rhythm of the metropolis.
St James’s Park in central London is one of the best curated and probably the oldest urban green areas, against the royal backdrop of Buckingham Palace and the scenic perspective of The Mall. Originally marshland in between royal residences, it was drained and landscaped to host exotic animals and plants by orders of James I. These days offers more domestic animals and some natural respite in between government buildings and palatial residences.
Green Park is the smallest of the Royal Parks in London, with 19 hectares of land between Buckingham Palace and Piccadilly. It is the Royal Park with less landscaping and planting, as it features just mature trees and some naturalised narcissus. One of the very few exceptions is a small fountain that is the centrepiece of the new entrance from Green Park Underground Station.
The largest of the four Royal Parks, Hyde Park features two small lakes, the Serpentine and the Long Water. On the Serpentine it is possible to rent small boats and, during the summer the largest solar-power boat in the UK ferries people between the northern and southern banks of the lake.
A small colony of white swans is also part of the wildlife enjoying the park and its frequent human visitors.
Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park was created in 1934 when the land around the closed down Bethlem Hospital for mental health was bought and then donated to the London City Council by Lord Rothermere. With the creation of the park the main building was restored and used as the main venue of the Imperial War Museum. Another feature of the park is a Tibetan Peace Garden, inaugurated in 1999 by the Dalai Lama.
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Wow! All the photographs are so beautiful! It’s been a while, but how are you doing? (:
Iโm fine, as much as once can be during a lockdown. Thanks for the compliment!
Is the lockdown still going on? I hope you and your family are safe?
<3
Yesterday was the first day of relaxation of some restrictions but London is still in Tier 2 under high alert, so no mixing of households is allowed indoor and a maximum of six people can meet outdoors. Where do you live?