Love your local landscape: Ham House and Garden Sunday Walking Group

View over Petersham Meadow from Richmond Hill

Explore the wildlife, plantlife, history and unique beauty surrounding Ham House and Garden, by joining this new sociable walking group.

Setting out from historic Ham House and Garden, these monthly walks are led by Ham’s House Manager and Head Gardener with a different theme each time.

We will be talking about Ham, Petersham and Kingston and the life of the River, looking at the trees, flowers and wildlife we encounter along the way. You can enjoy walking, get outside, discover new things about the local landscape and make new friends near you.

Ham House: part of a unique historic landscape

The 17th century Thames landscape of Ham House’s heyday was going through huge transformation. From quiet riverside villages and orchards, it became a place where royal and aristocratic families made their mark.

By the 18th century, the area was known as an ‘Arcadia’ - a rural paradise in central London. Up and down the river great palaces and houses, glorious gardens and parks were made, amid water meadows and woodland. 

Cattle at Petersham Meadow
Cattle at Petersham Meadow
Cattle at Petersham Meadow

With an estate of more than 100 acres, including gardens, meadows, woodland and wetlands, Ham House and Garden was connected to this unique London landscape by formal avenues of more than 250 trees stretching between the 17th century mansion and its gate houses in Petersham and Ham.

The 17th century garden at Ham House alive with spring scent and colour, as swathes of 500,000 bulbs bloom.
The walled garden at Ham House alive with spring scent and colour, as swathes of 500,000 bulbs bloom.
The 17th century garden at Ham House alive with spring scent and colour, as swathes of 500,000 bulbs bloom.

Today, Ham House and its 12-acre formal historic garden is still surrounded by a patchwork of this historic riverside habitat, and the National Trust manages water meadow, woodland and parkland for people to enjoy and wildlife to thrive.

Through these new weekly walks, you can discover more about the history of Richmond and the plants and wildlife that make it their home today.  

Grey squirrel in a tree

Ham House and Garden Love your Landscape Walks 2020 

Setting out from historic Ham House and Garden, these monthly walks are led by Ham’s House Manager and Head Gardener with a different theme each time.

Practical information for walkers

  • Walks take place on the first Sunday of every month.
  • We will start out from the main visitor entrance to Ham House and Garden, please arrive ten minutes before the start time.
  • Each walk lasts about an hour, and is free of charge, with no need to book.
  • Join us for cake and coffee afterwards in Ham House's large Orangery Cafe (normal admission prices apply).
  • Please dress appropriately for the weather and choose footwear suitable for any type of path.
  • Dogs are more than welcome.
  • Unfortunately these walks are not suitable for people with accessibility needs due to rough terrain and unfinished paths.
A visitor sitting outside the cafe at Ham House and Garden, Richmond.
A visitor sitting outside the cafe at Ham House and Garden, Richmond.
A visitor sitting outside the cafe at Ham House and Garden, Richmond.