People have been urged to stay at home as much as possible in the new six-week national lockdown.

The new guidelines state that residents should stay in the area they live when going outside, including to visit green spaces and parks.

In Richmond we're very fortunate to have two Royal Parks in the borough, as well as 20 more with Green Flag status.

A spokesperson for the Royal Parks said: "During this new lockdown, the parks will continue to remain open as they have done throughout the pandemic and the opening and closing times remain as advertised on our website.

"The parks provide vital green spaces where local visitors can get some fresh air, enjoy the natural environment and do their daily exercise - just a 20 minute walk in the park can boost mental and physical wellbeing.

"The latest government guidance makes it clear that if you leave home for a permitted reason, you should always stay local in the village, town, or part of the city where you live. You may leave your local area for a legally permitted reason, such as for work.

"It is important that people stick to the rules and only visit parks local to them, where they must continue to observe social distancing by staying 2m apart from others; can exercise once a day with their household (or support bubble) or with one other person; and must not gather in groups.

"We are currently working through the impact of the latest government guidance on all our park operations and on those of our contractors. For the most up-to-date information on all our parks, please visit our website or follow us on Twitter @theroyalparks."

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