Today's post is hierarchical, with several layers of background information according to your previous knowledge.
Level 10: These are the The Way gates in Richmond Park. They've been here since 2012 so I assume you know all about them.
Level 9: The words 'The Way' emblazoned across the top of these gates will undoubtedly be familiar as the title of Edward Goldsmith's most famous scientific treatise. With its subject matter plainly resonating here, it's perhaps not surprising that his family stumped up the costs for the gates' installation as a posthumous tribute. And although you may be familiar with the gnarled oak branches depicted in Joshua De Lisle's twisting ironwork, you may not have spotted the robin perched on a branch atop the left-hand gatepost. Meanwhile much lower down on the right-hand gate is a tiny representation of a wren, and I don't have to tell you what a clever reference that is.
Level 8: The gates are located at one of the entrances to Sidmouth Wood, the 50 acre plantation at the heart of Richmond Park. This enclave is of course entirely fenced off to protect the woodland within from deer. If you remember the infestation of Rhododendron ponticum that used to smother the interior a decade ago you'll be impressed to see it now with all the invasive non-native species sequentially removed and fresh hazel seedlings planted, enhancing the woodland as a wildlife rich habitat. And if you're thinking 'Hang on, is Sidmouth Wood named after the obvious early 19th century Prime Minister of the same name?' indeed it is, indeed he lived at nearby White Lodge for four decades, and the wood's most famous linear feature is all his doing.
Level 7: Not only did Henry Addington become Viscount Sidmouth following his premiership, he was also granted the Deputy Rangership of Richmond Park. On his watch the Isabella Plantation was first sealed off, for reasons entirely contrary to today, and Sidmouth Wood was planted with an eye to supplying timber for shipbuilding. But it wasn't all about practicality. The new plantation also included a line of trees deliberately aligned to draw the eye from a mound - the artificial hump beside the former mole-catcher's cottage - towards the vista of Wren's most famous cathedral. Its tercentenary would later provide the inspiration for the famous environmentalist's gate to be built slap bang across that invisible line.
Level 6: Stand on King Henry's Mound in the gardens of Pembroke Lodge and it's still possible to see the dome of St Paul's Cathedral ten miles distant. You might need to use a telescope, so thankfully one of these has been provided, but sharp eyesight or a good zoom lens will also do. By rights the first half mile should be completely blocked by trees but that's where Henry Addington's ornamental avenue comes in, a gap just wide enough to allow a slice of the City to remain visible between a wall of foliage. That the remainder of the alignment remains unblocked is thanks to strict longstanding planning conditions, this being one of eight protected views of the cathedral from different locations across London. And we all know where they are.
Level 5: King Henry's Mound may be the most famous viewpoint in the Strategic Views portfolio, but its counterparts are nonetheless significant. They include Greenwich Park and Blackheath Point in southeast London, Primrose Hill, Parliament Hill, Kenwood and Alexandra Palace to the north and Westminster Pier to the southwest. The latter's alignment merges with that from Richmond before reaching Ludgate Hill. Other key panoramic restrictions include the St Paul's Heights plan (protecting local views from the South Bank, certain Thames bridges and Fleet Street), the Monument Views Policy Area and the Tower of London's protected World Heritage Site skyline. If you've ever wondered why the City's skyscrapers are where they are, this is essentially why. A damned shame they never extended the sightlines to cover monstrosities in Stratford, though.
Level 4: The sad thing about the The Way gates is that they're always locked. Obviously Richmond Park staff get to pass through when something arboreal, ecological or conservational needs doing but the general public aren't allowed in. Instead the sole access to Sidmouth Wood is a single footpath fenced off along its entire length lest you stray into the nature reserves to either side. Look for the swing gate near the ancient Royal Oak, now a key perch for parakeets, or the swing gate just south of The Way. For a much broader tree-free panorama across the West End, City and Docklands you can instead head up towards Sawyer's Hill a short distance to the north, although you won't see the dome of St Paul's because that alignment has to be properly precise.
Level 3:RichmondPark is the largest of London's eight royal parks and has been managed as a deer park since the 17th century. Visitors are advised to keep their distance from the herds of cloven beasts, especially during the birthing and rutting seasons, although some cracking photos can be taken with due caution. The boundary wall is eight miles long and grade II listed. Pedestrian gates are only closed overnight during the deer culling season. Traffic is mostly barred and cycling is restricted to certain key paths only. The park contains two golf courses, at least a dozen ponds and no bandstands. The ground can be boggy underfoot after wet weather. The azaleas in the Isabella Plantation are still a few weeks off their dazzling best.
Level 2: London's Royal Parks were once owned by the Crown but are now under the care of a charity. Richmond Park is roughly the same size as the other seven Royal Parks put together. The most famous are Hyde Park, Regent's Park and St James's Park, although probably not in that order. If you're a tourist visiting London you'll probably find yourself in a Royal Park at some point. Entrance is always free except during special events, for example the ever popular Winter Wonderland. Ice creams can be bought at key locations depending on the season. Some Royal Parks are closer to public transport links than others. Trees, grass and birds are amongst the many attractions of the Royal Parks. London's Royal Parks are a much-loved resource.
Level 1:London is the most populous city in Western Europe and has a temperate climate. It is famous for its red buses, Beefeaters and Big Ben. World-famous playwright William Shakespeare once lived in London, as did Benjamin Franklin and pop starlet Kylie Minogue. Chelsea football club are based here as are the annual Wimbledon tennis finals. London is the capital city of the United Kingdom, a former world power with a long history of chivalry, conquest and industrialisation. The United Kingdom is situated on islands off the northwestern coast of mainland Europe, one of seven continents that cover the major land masses of the planet commonly known as Earth.
Level 0: The Earth is one of eight planets circling a G-type main-sequence star in the Orion arm of the Milky Way, located approximately 26000 light-years from galactic centre. The universe contains at least 100 million such galaxies and is believed to be 13.8 billion years old. As such the 'The Way' gates are entirely insignificant on a cosmic scale, as indeed are you, but they are still unique amongst the entire history of creation and also very pretty.
