Environment & Climate 2025
The Royal Parks (charity)

Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25

The Royal Parks is the independent charity managing eight of London's most famous parks, Brompton Cemetery and Victoria Tower Gardens. In 2024-25, 32,000 people participated in learning activities, 65,000 volunteer hours were contributed, and 250,000 biodiversity-boosting plants and bulbs were planted. All eight parks were awarded Green Flag for a fifth consecutive year. The Greenwich Park restoration project was completed, and planning permission was secured for the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Garden at Regent's Park, the Diana Memorial Playground renewal in Kensington Gardens, and a new café at Roehampton Gate in Richmond Park — all opening in 2026.

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📋About

Day-to-day management and maintenance of 8 Royal Parks, Brompton Cemetery and Victoria Tower Gardens; Interpretation and Wayfinding Plan (200+ new signs); learning activities and school engagement; volunteer programme; events (British Summertime, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland); accessibility and inclusion initiatives; Superbloom Schools (25 partner schools creating moat-in-bloom gardens); Fire secondary schools show (7,000+ students); Relaxed Hour at the Tower; heritage and conservation works; three flagship projects in planning (Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Garden, Diana Playground renewal, Roehampton Gate café) Custom geography from upload: London (8 Royal Parks: Bushy, Green, Greenwich, Hyde, Kensington Gardens, Regent's, Richmond, St James's, Brompton Cemetery, Victoria Tower Gardens)

📊Key Metrics

32,000 people participated in learning activities; 65,000 volunteer hours contributed; 250,000 biodiversity-boosting plants and bulbs planted; 24,000 snowdrops planted by Royal Parks Half Marathon runners Key Metric 1
94% of public rated their visit as good or excellent; 5 consecutive years all 8 parks awarded Green Flag; 160,000+ members making 300,000+ visits; membership generated £5.8m plus £814k Gift Aid Key Metric 2
1,000 free plants donated to local charities, community groups and schools; 200 old noticeboards and maps replaced; 12,500 enquiries handled by visitor support team; Greenwich Park flagship restoration project completed Key Metric 3

✅Key Outcomes

  • Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Garden at Regent's Park received planning permission and is progressing — opening Spring 2026; Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground renewal received planning permission — opening Spring 2026; Greenwich Park flagship restoration project completed — new meadows, shrubs, community facilities
  • St James's Park chosen as setting for national memorial to Queen Elizabeth II — partnership with Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee and Foster + Partners; Roehampton Gate café received planning permission; Metropolitan Police dedicated Royal Parks unit closing November 2025 — first time without dedicated police since 1872
  • Independent charity — contracted by DCMS to manage Royal Parks; charitable status since 2017 (first full contract period); first Chair Sir Loyd Grossman CBE retiring; charity model enabled commercial revenue diversification, reserves building and long-term investment; chariot reg. 1097419

📍Geography

London

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