Hyde park and the Fish

Round Pond in Hyde Park
Round Pond in Hyde Park

Hyde Park is London’s great oasis. People come to walk their dogs, ride their horses, sit on the benches, watch the birds, walk around, run around, ski around, ride their bike around, smell the flowers, listen to the birds  – and to Fish! Hyde Park came to be in 1536 when Henry VIII took the land from Westminster Abbey to use it as his private hunting grounds. Hyde Park was opened to the public in 1637 and has been immensely popular ever since.

Fox of Hyde Park
Fox of Hyde Park

There are wild animals apart from birds in Hyde Park, and these guys are not hunted anymore…

Horse riding in Hyde Park
Horse riding in Hyde Park
Skiers are out in Hyde park to perfect their cross country skiing before the season starts.
Skiers are out in Hyde park to perfect their cross country skiing before the season starts.
Kensington palace
Kensington palace

Kensington Palace has a number of apartments in it and it is the current home of, among others, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Kate as well as William’s brother prince Harry. Both William and Harry grew up in the palace as it was the home of their parents Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and his wife Diana Princess of Wales. After their parents divorced Kensington palace continued to be the home of their mother, the beloved princess Diana, until her death in 1997.

Princess Diana memorial Gardens at Kensington Palace.
Princess Diana memorial Gardens at Kensington Palace.
Walkway around the Princess Diana memorial Gardens.
Walkway around the Princess Diana memorial Gardens.
Statue of Queen Victoria outside of Kensington Palace which was her childhood home.
Statue of Queen Victoria outside of Kensington Palace which was her childhood home.
A fisherman at the one spot at the Serpentine where fishing is allowed.
A fisherman at the one spot at the Serpentine where fishing is allowed.

The fisherman has cast far out towards a small island in the Serpentine lake. It looks like he might have a bite

Typha Angustifolia, a.k.a. Narrowleaf cattail growing at the edge of the Serpentine.
Typha Angustifolia, a.k.a. Narrowleaf cattail growing at the edge of the Serpentine.
Anne Andrews bench in Hude Park.
Anne Andrews bench in Hude Park.

The inscription reads: “ANNE ANDREWS WHO ENJOYED VISITING THE GARDENS”. We have not been able to find any information on memorial benches in the Royal parks, however donated memorial benches can currently be installed in the City of Westminster owned parks, more info here.

Fall colors are slowly beginning to appear in the park.
Fall colors are slowly beginning to appear in the park.
Another fascinating tree in the park, Araucaria-araucana, or the Monkey puzzle tree.
Another fascinating tree in the park, Araucaria-araucana, or the Monkey puzzle tree.
The park is filled with memorials of different types, here is one memorial to the Cavalry.
The park is filled with memorials of different types, here is one memorial to the Cavalry.
Yes, the fisherman had a bite, here the fish is inb the b=net and about to be hauled out of the lake.
Yes, the fisherman had a bite, here the fish is in the net and about to be hauled out of the lake.
Fish is out of the lake and resting in the fish bed.
Fish is out of the lake and resting in the fish bed.
Closeup of the fish, a good sized Carp.
Closeup of the fish, a good sized Carp.