LBRUT, working with the Thames Landscape Strategy, aims to manage rising tidal and river levels in Richmond by creating new wetland areas at Old Deer Park and Buccleuch Gardens.
Because the River Thames here is affected by tides, water levels can rise quickly, leaving nearby towpaths and land damp after flood events. The project would give floodwater more room to spread out temporarily, reducing pressure on surrounding paths and green spaces while keeping them usable and accessible.
It also seeks to improve the ecological condition of the tidal Thames by restoring more natural floodplain processes and creating backwater and wetland habitats for wildlife. In addition, the scheme should help drainage and public access recover more quickly after flooding.
Brief history: Old Deer Park began as a royal hunting park created by James I in 1604, and it remains archaeologically important, including the site of the 15th-century Shene Charterhouse. Today it is used for sport and recreation.
Buccleuch Gardens developed in the 1880s from the combined grounds of earlier estates and sits beside the Thames beneath Richmond Hill. Together, these adjoining riverside spaces have long blended heritage, landscape, and public use, making them a fitting place for floodplain restoration.
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