There is a hill beside the silver Thames

Shady with birch and beech and odorous pine;

And brilliant underfoot with thousand gems.

Steeply the thickets to his floods decline.

Robert Bridges – Poet Laureate

There won’t be much text in this post.

It’s just a celebration in pictures of the wonderful job that Richmond Council’s Leisure Services Department has done in renovating, landscaping and replanting the Terrace Gardens.

A great place to sit on a bench and read the paper. Or to lie on the grass and imbibe a tinny or two. Or (as Riversniffers witnessed) have a full blown al fresco meal complete with hampers, bottles of wine and tables and chairs

 Or one can visit the Hollyhock Cafe (see separate review on this site)

With over 100 parks and open spaces to manage in the borough, it’s a big job to keep on top of the work.

But it should be said that the Council’s Leisure Services Department has excelled itself.

The Verdict

Richmond’s own Itchycoo Park (and you know what they did there…)

Other Notes

Follow the link here for more information on the project, and here for opening times

Two cool Richmond establishments in ten days. Dipsophile’s cup runneth over.

Despite the fact that it doesn’t serve alcohol (and that’s a serious drawback as far as Dipsophile is concerned) this place is so cool it’s sub-zero.

Looking out over the newly restored and replanted Terrace Gardens, the building has an air of peace. It harks back to an earlier Richmond. To a time before the IT salesmen and the financial services people moved in; before the property prices went beserk; before anyone had ever heard of a collateralised debt obligation.

The food is vegetarian, organic and/or Fairtrade.. Sample prices: pot of tea for one/two £1.45/£2.10; coke 90p; slice of pizza £2.10/with salad £5.40. There are vegetable samosas, filo spinach and ricotta parcels; also lots of fresh fruit. You get the drift – the food is good and it’s not going to break the bank.

Dipsophile lingered over a pot of tea for one. Softly in the background the Mamas and the Papas played - “California Dreaming” and then “Monday, Monday”. For a while Dipsophile was transported back to his misspent youth.

The interior features a high ceiling, a stripped pine floor and a wood burning stove. There are second hand books and posters for bands and gigs and alternative therapists. In fact the Hollyhocks Café is redolent of the sixties, and has an almost hippy feel.

The legend under the framed duck on the wall says “Who gives a duck?”

Indeed.

The Verdict

Elysian. Not to be missed.

Other notes

Now open all year round. It does get very popular at weekends. An off-peak visit would be best to appreciate the atmosphere. Opening times vary according to the season and the weather, so if you plan to go at the beginning or end of the day then please phone ahead to check they are open.

The parking along Petersham Road is non-existent. If you go by car it may be best to drive to the top of the Hill. Try to find a meter on Friars Stile Rd, then walk down through the Terrace Gardens to the café.

Hollyhock Café, Terrace Gardens, Petersham Road, Richmond TW10 6UX Tel: 020 8948 6555.