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Lifelong Richmond residents have spoken of their experiences after an extraordinarily busy weekend in the town.

Sonia Wynn-Jones said Richmond Park was "never like this in the 71 years I have lived here".

Seonaide Tara said: "The park was madness. I live 5 mins from it and routinely walk there normally. Couldn't yesterday."

On the first weekend of the new lockdown, a combination of there being little else to do and lovely late autumn sunshine created the conditions that saw staggering numbers of people flocking to the park.

The town itself was similarly busy, with Richmond Riverside a particular pinch point.

Related coverage:

Richmond Park manager on 'extremely busy' weekend

Threat of fines for parking on the grass

'Never seen anything like it' - reflections on choatic weekend in Richmond

PHOTO GALLERY: 10 pics by Jack Fifield on hectic day in Richmond Park

Visitors 'pen in frightened' young deer in Richmond Park

Naomi Guppy: "I've lived next to the park for 5 years and yesterday was total chaos, never seen anything like it. Usually there are car park full signs posted at the gates, but this didn't seem to happen yesterday."

Susie O'Brien: "It was such a glorious day yesterday and so wonderful that many are able to use and enjoy our beautiful park. I myself went for a 5 mile walk and saw many people I know doing the same. It's no surprise it is busy! It's a balancing act though isn't it, keeping car parks open makes it accessible to more and limits the congestion around Petersham. I'd love if the park could close to traffic and be a haven for cyclists and walkers with a regular linked electric bus service and a disabled car park, however I imagine this would not be satisfactory to the residents of Petersham."

Lucy Southall: "It was madness throughout Richmond yesterday with the Riverside packed solid, the Terrace bins overflowing.

"I know everyone needs to get out but like last time everyone should be encouraged to stay near their home. I agree to ban cars (except disabled) and cyclists, also once again there needs to be some form of education for the walking visitors to remind them of the countryside code such as keep to the paths and respect the wildlife as it's not a petting farm.

"I would also implore the council to remove the bins and encourage the public to take their rubbish home as there will never be enough bins to serve the volume of rubbish."

Isabelle Whittaker: "Bins overflowing with empty bottles of fizz and beer this morning. Welcome to lockdown 2.0! presumably this is what happens when the government has eroded all confidence in its strategy to tackle the virus."

Kate Beach: "Cars are only half the problem! By 10am yesterday the park was dangerously full of speeding peletons leaving little space for leisure cyclists and families. There needs to be a solution for everyone with access and safety as key priorities along with consideration for local residents. Unsurprisingly the woolly lockdown 2.0 guidelines haven't made it as clear as they could have people should be exercising in their local parks and open spaces. Tourism should not be happening during a lockdown. Regardless Royal Parks should have been prepared yesterday with the forecast set fair - either send marshals, safety patrols, litter pickers and car park wardens or close the park to all traffic including cyclists."

Replying to Kate, Tom Everard said: "I agree with you to an extent. I live a short walk from the park and my other half and I took our two young children into the park on a family bike ride. The cyclists in the park were mostly inconsiderate and dangerous. BUT, the short journey to the park was much more dangerous with cars passing aggressively and in excess of the speed limits. So, I would like to be able to cycle in the park with the kids and not on the roads outside the park."

Deer surrounded

Crowds also surrounded and frightened a family of deer on Saturday.

Eyewitnesses told Richmond Nub News: "There was a nursery of fawns. It was awful really. They were surrounded by 150 people, maybe even a little more, many of whom were far too close.

"Men, women and children. The fawns looked frightened and were penned in. They were trapped in effect.

"Because of that they looked startled and kept making little runs but there was nowhere for them to escape."

Parking on the grass

On both days of the weekend all the car parks in Richmond Park reached capacity by mid-morning.

It led to a warning from the Royal Parks Police telling motorists not to park on the grass.

Police said: "Please be advised that the car parks in #RichmondPark are full and you may not get parked.

"Fines will be issued to those parking on the grass."

Gridlock on the roads

There was also extremely heavy traffic on the roads both inside the park and on nearby residential streets.

Some drivers were turning around after arriving at Richmond Gate and realising that the car park near Pembroke Lodge was full.

Law student Jack Fifield was in the park with his camera and captured the scenes.

His photographs show traffic at a standstill on Queen's Road which runs between Richmond and Kingston via Pembrook Lodge café.

Lockdown rules broken?

Police hinted at possible breaches of government guidelines after a number of groups gathered in the park.

The parks police tweeted three photos including one showing large numbers of people on the grass.

"#RichmondPark is very busy and we would like to remind you that government guidelines changed on November 5," the police wrote.

Under the new national restrictions, people should avoid meeting others outside their household. They can meet one person from another household for a walk or outdoor exercise.

No Volunteer Rangers

Many residents asked where the Volunteer Rangers – members of the public who give up their time to educate and inform visitors to the parks – were over the weekend.

Richmond Nub News learnt the service has been paused amid this new lockdown because of the public-facing nature of the role. It is set to resume when lockdown lifts on December 2.

The suspension of the Volunteer Rangers left Richmond Park with a reduced number of authority figures on a weekend when increasing numbers of people visited.

Royal Parks Police sent out several messages over the weekend and had their hands full, even helping out with the rescue of a small dachshund from a rabbit hole.

Statement from park manager

Speaking after the weekend, Richmond Park assistant park manager Adam Curtis said: "With limited places to visit due to the lockdown, all the parks, but especially Richmond and Bushy Parks, have been extremely busy, with people taking advantage of the sunny weekend weather to relax and get some exercise in the beautiful green spaces.

"We encourage people not to travel by car during the busiest times. Last weekend all the car parks have been full and the roads in the area have been busy with vehicles and cyclists, leading to long delays and cars turning around on arrival.

"Please take care and be considerate of others on your visit by staying a safe distance and consider visiting the parks at quieter times, such as early in the morning or during the week.

"Particularly at popular times please help us care for the park by taking litter home if the bins are full."

Share your experience

How did you find Richmond this weekend? We'd love to hear.

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