Improvements and conservation in Richmond's parks and open spaces

The borough is renowned for having some of the highest quality open space in London, and we are dedicated to continual improvement and conservation.

Latest parks updates

Works to be carried out to enhance our parks and open spaces

Nature conservation

Preserving our natural environment, and ways in which you can help

Policies and plans

Plans have been developed to ensure that the quality of our parks remains high

Biodiversity Duty Report (2020-2025)

In 2021 the government’s Environment Act (Environment Act 2021) strengthened the legal biodiversity duty, which requires all public authorities to consider what action they can take to conserve and enhance biodiversity.

We are committed to the protection and enhancement of the boroughs nature. We declared a climate and biodiversity emergency in 2019 which drove the production and adoption of the first Richmond Climate Change Strategy. This was superseded by the current Climate and Nature Strategy (2025-2030).

In addition to this we have a Nature Conservation Statement (2019) and have adopted the Richmond Biodiversity Action Plan (2025).

The new biodiversity duty requires all local authorities to produce a biodiversity duty report. Read our Statutory Biodiversity Report (2021-2026), and the following appendices:

• Surveying for bats in trees and woodland
• River restoration success at Pevensey-little Park
• Biodiversity net gain – A London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames approach to defining a ‘significant’ offset

The report covers the period from 1 January 2020 to 31 October 2025. In line with the regulations, five yearly reports will follow.