A Walk in the Park

[ffutures]

Nearly forgot to post these - I walked home tonight via Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens (it's not the most direct route but I need the exercise), got some nice pictures of squirrels and the newly refurbished Italian Gardens; they've cleaned up beautifully, and I've just realised that they contain the only memorial to a scientist I've noticed in the park.



Squirrels - although they look red, they're actually American grey squirrels, not the native British red squirrels. They were really out in force tonight, I must have seen at least 20-30 along the way. They look amazingly cute but they're actually really destructive little buggers, do a lot of damage to trees and plants, and can seriously damage your house if they get into the loft or something.













The Italian Gardens, built for Queen Victoria and refurbished thanks to a grant from the Tiffany foundation

http://www.supporttheroyalparks.org/explore/tiffany_fountains

Comments

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

It is such a shame that the grey squirrels are such destructive little buggers as they really are cute. And perfectly camouflaged against that tree, too.

I have never seen the Italian Gardens - what a lovely spot - and good to see Jenner has a statue. I wonder why they chose to put him there?

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

I think it's not as well known as it should be because it's on the other side of Krnsington Gardens from the main touristy bits, and out of sight from the roads and from the road running through through Hyde Park. Also it was fenced off from October until comparatively recently while they were renovating it. There's a lot of other stuff that is slightly off the most direct routes, you could easily spend a day just wandering around and finding all the weird little gardens, monuments, etc.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

Good god, that's the fattest grey squirrel I've ever seen.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

They get a LOT of people throwing them food, it's one of the reasons why there are so many - another is that there are lots of oak trees and nothing much else that eats acorns.

[coth.livejournal.com]

Nice Italian Gardens. Must swing through that way next time I get the chance.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

It's odd it isn't better known. The nearest entrance is Lancaster Gate, map here:


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