We hope that you are enjoying a wonderful festive season, no matter how you do it or choose to celebrate.
Of course, in some communities, the New Year is yet to come and in a city like London it is wonderful to experience and witness the depth and variety of how different cultures and religions mark and celebrate important dates.
For most of us, a New Year represents a time to reflect, regroup and reboot and we on the Committee are doing the same. What we did, what could have done better in the year passed and what we intend to do for you and the park that we love going forward. We are all volunteers – but we put our heart and soul into what we do. Your feedback and indeed your help and support keep us going.
Get out and enjoy the park. Benugo is offering some wonderful seasonal delights in their cafés…. and of course, you get your 25% discount there so use it!
At time of writing the musical and non-musical events’ programmes are all but finalised and will soon be made available to all of you. We say it often say and will say it again…if an event appeals to you, book as soon as you can otherwise you may be left out.
The Friends’ Committee wish you a wonderful 2026 and hope that you get the best out of your membership by getting involved in activities, listening to music, joining in with your community for one of our big events or volunteering.
We are very fortunate to have acres of green space in central London. We need to embrace, enjoy, enhance and protect it for all to enjoy for years to come. That’s what the Friends are all about.
Robin Black
Editor – Friends of Regent’s Park & Primrose Hill
1. Tuesday January 13th
‘Plant health and seed inspecting across London’- Valeria Flores-Enriquez, Plant Health & Seeds Inspector
(Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) – DEFRA)
2. Wednesday. February 11th
‘Beetle diversity in the city: tales from the river and the parks’
– Dr Beulah Gardner, London Natural History Museum and Chair, the Coleoptera Society
Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. Meeting Room, Regent’s Park Offices. Spring talks will follow – please confirm attendance to e-mail below:
Organiser: Kennedy Cruickshank on wildlife@friendsofregentspark.org
The Royal Parks are keen to let visitors know that if they witness a crime in the Park it is important to tell the police directly, rather than a member of the Park.
A statement from TRP says: ‘The Royal Parks works closely with the Metropolitan Police to ensure that the parks are welcoming, safe spaces for everyone. If you do witness a crime, you should report it directly to the police so that all details are recorded as accurately as possible.
The Park is keen to know about more minor incidents such as cyclists where they shouldn’t be, or dogs out of control. If you witness something of this nature, we urge you to report it to feed into a database of issues the Royal Parks are facing. More information at the official website here.
‘Please call 999 if it is an emergency, for example if there is a risk that someone is in danger, if the crime is still happening, or if the suspect is still at the scene. If you’ve witnessed or been the victim of crime that isn’t an emergency, please report it to the police by calling 101 or report it online here.
The Park Sports lease on the tennis courts ends on 31 January 2026. From 1 February the operation will be managed by TRP’s event management team (they took over the boating on the lake in 2024). The operation of the café will be transferred to Benugo.
Resurfacing works will take place on the Outer Circle Tuesday 6 Jan – Friday 9 Jan 2026.
The park apologises for any disruption during this period and say that road closures will be clearly signposted with diversion routes. Footways will remain open with minor diversions where required.
Thank you to our sponsors
©2025 Friends of Regent’s Park & Primrose Hill
Friends of Regent’s Park & Primrose Hill is a registered charity in England and Wales (no 1201666)
