Conference Proceedings - "WATERFOWL" INFORMATION NETWORK International Conference
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Organisational Overviews: The Royal Parks Agency

Author: Mike Fitt, Head of Outer Royal Parks and Estates

The Royal Parks, with a history stretching back for more than 1000 years, form a patchwork of manicured gardens, traditional parkland and countryside scattered across London, from Greenwich Park in the East through St. James's Park, The Green Park, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Regent's Park and Primrose Hill in Central London to Richmond Park and Bushy Park in the West. Linked with these famous parks are lesser know green havens such as Brompton Cemetary and the Longford River. They are all managed by the Royal Parks Agency, led by a Chief Executive who is accountable to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

This large estate of Crown lands, comprising of well over 2000 hectares and maintained for the general public's "peaceful enjoyment, recreation, entertainment and delight" constitutes a significant area of London's wildlife habitat, including a considerable amount of wetland.

The importance of this irreplaceable natural resource and historic landscape, within our Capital City, is recognised by the Agency which has, as a primary aim, the need to conserve this unique heritage for present and future generations.

With this in mind the Agency works closely with a broad range of organisations engaged in wildlife conservation and is represented on various steering groups and committees, such as the London Biodiversity Partnership. Currently the Agency is leading a working party which is looking at a system for biological recording within the Royal Parks. It is also contributing to the formulation of several local Biodiversity Action Plans through the auspices of the Royal Parks Wildlife Groups. Not least, of course, is its support of the London Waterfowl Project and the development of an early warning system and help line to assist with the management and containment of disease in London's waterfowl populations.

CONTACT DETAILS

For further information on the above, and the Royal Parks Environmental Education Centres, please contact Mike Fitt at

The Royal Parks Agency
Old Police House
Hyde Park
London W2 2UH
Tel: 0171 298 2055.