Bushy Park, Royal park in Richmond upon Thames, England
Bushy Park is a royal green space north of Hampton Court Palace in Richmond upon Thames, covering roughly 1100 acres. The space includes open meadows, woodland areas with centuries-old trees and ponds spread across a wide, flat landscape.
Henry VIII acquired the land in 1529 alongside Hampton Court Palace as a hunting ground for deer and wild boar. Royal use continued for centuries until the park opened to the public.
The name refers to the bushy appearance of the landscape, which draws families, runners and walkers throughout the week. On weekends, locals use the wide lawns for picnicking while others stroll through the wooded sections and observe fallow and red deer up close.
Several entrance gates around the perimeter provide access for pedestrians and cyclists, with Hampton Court, Hampton Wick and Teddington railway stations nearby. Wide paths cross the space and help with orientation and movement for all visitors.
In October 2004, the first ever Parkrun event took place here, a weekly running gathering that has since spread worldwide. Today, hundreds of volunteers and runners take part in the free running event on the same ground every Saturday.
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