Posted:  Friday 17 July 2009

South East Associates
Richmond Park Walk

- Thursday 21st May -

Seventeen Associates met at Pembroke Lodge in Richmond Park.

After days of cloud and rain it was a beautiful warm sunny day.  We set off through the park and soon entered the Isabella Plantation.  We only crossed one corner but saw the lake and lots of rhododendrons in flower.

Next we skirted some woods and after about an hour arrived at a coffee stall where some indulged in bacon sarnies, the rest of us with coffee.

As we continued through the park we encountered groups of deer mostly sitting down.  I know cows sitting down are supposed to forecast rain, but I've never heard the same for deer.  Anyway the weather continued warm and sunny.  Some of the deer were so calm that they stood in our path right up to the last minute before sauntering away.

We passed an impressive white building which is the Royal Ballet School.  Following it round we came to the Queens Ride, a long wide avenue of trees.

At the end of the ride we walked some more through the park until we entered the gardens of the Pembroke Lodge, to find King Henry's Mound.  This was an ancient burial mound, and rumour has it that this is where Henry VIII stood to watch for the flags to be raised to show that Anne Boleyn had been beheaded.

Certainly through a gap in the trees you could see St Paul's Cathedral in the hazy heat of London.  From the other side there are impressive views right across the Thames Valley to Runnymede, another royal venue.

We lunched on the patio of Pembroke Lodge overlooking the Thames Valley, and then wended our different ways home.

Margaret Burnip

(ph  17/07/2009)

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