Hyde Park (the green heart of London city)
Hyde Park is a sprawling 350 acre green space in the centre of London, wiht quiet meadows to escape from the roar of city traffic. A former hunting ground for Henry VIII (he took it from monks at Westminster Abbey), it’s been open to the public since 1637.
Serpentine Lake divides Hyde Park from its neighbour Kensington Gardens, which combined cover 620 of green space.
Out walking? Follow the Countryside Code to keep all creatures safe. Keep dogs away from steep banks, mushrooms (and other toxic plants/trees) and on leads during nesting season (and near barnyard friends and wild ponies).
Did you know many trees (including yew, oak and sycamore) are unsafe near horses? Also keep conkers away from dogs. Councils should not plant flowers in railings, as deer can get stuck in them.
Hyde Park is also known for its Speakers’ Corner, where since 1872 a small plot of ground has served as a global symbol of free speech. On Sundays, many people debate politics, philosophy and religion to anyone who will listen!
A tragic history (and one recovered horse)
The park also has a tragic history, when an IRA bomb killed not just horsemen, but seven innocent horses – a shameful spectacle that appalled Irish people too.
One horse who survived was Sefton, who after extensive surgery became a national symbol of resilience, receiving thousands of get-well cards from the public. The public also donated a collective £620,000 which funded the Sefton Surgical Wing at Royal Veterinary College.
Sefton recovered and enjoyed a long retirement at The Horse Trust, before dying of old age at 30.
