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The Royal Parks have produced the most magnificent bedding display for the NHS outside Buckingham Palace.

Red, white and blue, the much admired bedding scheme at Buckingham Palace was all ready for the big plant out. The geraniums, some of them breathtakingly tall, and other patriotic coloured plants had been beautifully tended for a year in the Hyde Park nursery.

Hyde Park’s events, throughout the ages, have characterised the space, and are arguably the defining feature for this particular Royal Park. From Pink Floyd to Taylor Swift, Rock and Pop concerts have attracted millions of fans to the famous Parade Ground. The BBC Proms provide an eclectic mix of live performances, while the bandstand has recently been revived by none other than the Friends Group for a selection of intimate concerts

I find the parks delightful during the day, but I find them even more enchanting at night. Having shaken off my fear of the dark during a spell in the Territorial Army, I now love to spend time in the parks at night. They are so much more peaceful than during the day, and in some ways more beautiful. Here I describe some of my experiences.

The last two weeks have been busy in the parks. People have picnicked, protested and partied as the parks remain a vital space for people to relax, play and congregate, all at a distance of course. As the lockdown restrictions continue to ease there is a sense that summer has finally been unlocked, quite literally.

As I live on the western edge of Kensington Gardens, this is where I take my daily stroll, Hyde Park is for Significant Expeditions. Whether I walk clockwise or anti-clockwise there are certain points to be noted each time. These vary with the seasons; in the winter I can see the Palace as soon as I enter, its mixture of grandeur and cosiness never fails to cheer, in the summer with the leaves full out it is more like entering a tightly wooded copse, secret and mysterious.

Trees are the body of a park. They define a natural landscapes character, its shape, colour, and smell. They are what attract people to green spaces, for their towering and twisted figures, knotted crowns, and artists pallet of green hues. Trees are also what bring life to a park. They harbour biodiversity, filter pollution out of the air we breathe while at the same time emitting oxygen into the atmosphere. They are all round great living and breathing beings and so this week Russell and I are going to introduce you to some of the ancient woody characters we have across the parks and the benefits they provide for both people and wildlife.

Lockdown Fridays on my Bike

Not living close to the Parks, I have experienced an urge to get back into Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens for another ramble with my camera. As the easing and gradual unlocking is rolled out I felt safe and within the rules to peddle in from East London for an explore.