The woodland gardens are a delight for all ages. Children
in particular will love the rabbits who lollop about and the ducks that waddle
around without a care. Please take care however since there are plenty of small
bubbling streams and larger ponds within the Waterland Woodland Gardens;
children should be kept within sight for safety's sake.
Please note that dogs are not allowed in the Woodland Gardens itself according to a sign on the perimeter gate - although they have the freedom of the rest of Bushy Park.
Bushy Park teems with herds of deer that are quite happy
to be viewed from a close distance and are willing to pose for a photo if bribed
sufficiently (although they are a bit busy during the Christmas season when they
have to help Santa deliver the presents!)
The cache itself...
The cache is in a 2.5 litre clear plastic box and the
initial contents included lots of fine goodies when stocked up in July 2004.
Don't feel obliged to take anything but please leave something if you do.
Park Access…
The park is open from 5am to 10.30pm for pedestrians and
from 6.30am to dusk for vehicles (7.00pm in winter). If traveling by car,
you could park either within the park itself,
or alternatively next to the river in the car
park just outside of the park permiter.
Want to know more about Bushy Park?
Bushy Park is the second largest of the Royal Parks and
covers an area of 450 hectares (1,099 acres).
During the First World War, areas of land in the Park were
turned over to the plough to 'Dig for Victory'. King George V gave his
permission to use Upper Lodge as a home for Canadian Convalescents. Queen Mary
visited the troops and made sure entertainment was provided with the help of
local people. This Canadian tie with the Park is commemorated by the Totem Pole
and the Canadian Glade in the Waterhouse Woodland Gardens.
During the Second World War large areas of the Parks were
again turned over for the production of food. From 1942, Bushy Park became the
site of a large U.S. base called Camp Griffiss, headquarters to a number of the
Allied departments. General Dwight Eisenhower was averse to working in the
centre of London during the Second World War. He decided instead to make Bushy
Park the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) centre for
planning Operation Overlord, the 1944 D-Day. Locals still remember as children
hanging around the camp perimeter begging sweets from the GIs on guard duty.
Bushy Park is just across the road from the world-famous
Hampton Court Palace; Henry VIII's majestic palace on the River Thames. The
palace is well worth combining into your visit and has lots to see, such as the
vast kitchens, the ancient vine, the real tennis court, for its architecture
(notably its splendid chimneys), and its gardens. Oh yes, and its maze. More
information can be found at http://www.hrp.org.uk/webcode/hampton_home.asp.
The park also boasts a magnificent 'Chestnut Avenue'; this
mile long avenue was conceived by Sir Christopher Wren as a formal approach to
Hampton Court. Flanked on both sides by a single row of horse chestnuts and four
rows of limes, it marks the Park's zenith in terms of royal ambitions and
sophistication. The view from Teddington gate provides the most striking view of
the Avenue, with the Diana Fountain and the Banqueting Hall as the backdrop.