Hiking in Richmond Deer Park, visiting Isabella Plantation in full bloom

GRADE: Beginner 18,7km / 11,6 miles, 5 hr walking time.
We will meet us at Twickenham train station and following the Thames path we will make our way to lovely Richmond Park, a top site of ancient trees, especially oaks and famous for the Red and Fallow deer, habitats of the park since 1637.
We will climb to King Henry's Mound, a scenic lookout point with views to Thames. We will walk to Pembroke Lodge gardens, an area commemorating the poet James Thomson (1700-1748) where we can also find the Musical bench, Ian Dury's bench, in Poet's corner.
We will also visit Isabella Plantation, which forms part of the broader parkland Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is a famous woodland garden set within a Victorian woodland, well known as one of the best places to visit in London for spring flowers. Among the first signs of spring in Isabella Plantation are the daffodils and camellias that bloom through March. The best period to visit it is in mid spring (late April to mid May), when the rhododendrons and azaleas are in full bloom.
We will finish our walk in Richmond, where we can have some drinks before making our way back home. Feel free to join!
COST: £10.00 organiser fee pay on RSVP
MEETING TIME: 10:00 at Twickenham, outside the train station
TRAINS: Oyster-card friendly hike. To Twickenham by train from Waterloo station and from Richmond by underground (District line) or overground or train.
LUNCH: Pack lunch
WALK FINISHES: Approx 16:00 at Richmond
HIKE LEADER: Fofi
What to bring: lunch, snacks, water, suitable clothing and hiking footwear. Click here-
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FLjSAczjgbZ26OKE4Iy_zX2IFqkybdXCmK9AkVfqI1w/edit?usp=sharing
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