Millions of Londoners and tourists visit the eight Royal Parks - Bushy Park (with Longford River), Green Park, Greenwich Park, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Regent's Park (with Primrose Hill), Richmond Park and St James's Park - for free every year.

The 5,000 acres of historic parkland provide unparalleled opportunities for enjoyment, exploration and healthy living in the heart of the capital, ranging from a simple walk or a picnic in the park to sport, top-quality entertainment and community and education projects. The Parks also have hundreds of buildings, statues, and memorials, giving a fascinating insight into London's heritage.

Royal Parks, an executive agency of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), manages these spaces and (almost!) everything in them. It is also responsible for conserving the Parks to ensure that future generations can enjoy them too.

It also tends a number of other spaces in London, including Brompton Cemetery, the gardens of 10, 11 and 12 Downing Street, and Grosvenor Square Gardens.

Keeping 5,000 acres of urban parkland stocked with trees and other plants is no small task. Royal Parks has its our own nursery to meet the demand, and a dedicated team of plantsmen and Parks staff keep the Parks looking great all year round.

Part of its remit is to conserve the Parks for future generations. It has a 'Green Housekeeping Committee', which looks at how it can reduce the impact it has on the local and wider environment. It also has an Ecology Officer, who advises on habitat management, sustainability, and biodiversity.