Richmond Park Wildlife Gets New Lottery Support

Richmond Park wildlife will benefit from a new weekly lottery launched by The Royal Parks charity. For £1 a week, you can play for prizes up to £25,000 while supporting conservation work across London’s eight Royal Parks, including the deer, birds, and habitats that make your local park such a special place to walk.

The Royal Parks charity has introduced The Royal Parks Nature Lottery to fund wildlife conservation across its portfolio.

How the lottery works

Tickets cost £1 per week

The lottery operates as a weekly draw with a top prize of £25,000. You can enter online and choose how many weeks to play in advance. Every ticket purchased contributes directly to conservation projects across the Royal Parks, including Richmond Park’s 2,500 acres of grassland, woodland, and wetland habitat. The charity uses lottery proceeds to fund ranger teams, habitat restoration, wildlife monitoring, and public education programmes.

Regular small contributions add up to meaningful protection for the landscapes you already enjoy.

Where your money goes locally

Richmond Park benefits directly from Royal Parks funding

The charity manages conservation work throughout Richmond Park, from maintaining the ancient oak pollards to protecting the red and fallow deer herds and supporting bird species including woodpeckers, kestrels, and ring-necked parakeets. Recent projects have included restoring the Isabella Plantation’s streams and woodland gardens, managing the park’s veteran trees, and creating new wildflower meadows. Lottery revenue helps fund the specialist staff and equipment needed for this ongoing work, supplementing the core budget that keeps the park open and safe for the 5.5 million visits it receives each year.

Your weekly stake supports the rangers and ecologists who maintain the park you walk through regularly.

What this means for you

If you already donate to park or wildlife causes, this lottery offers a way to combine charitable giving with the possibility of a financial return. You can set up a direct debit through The Royal Parks website and adjust or cancel at any time. If you prefer other ways to support the park, The Royal Parks charity also accepts one-off donations and offers volunteering opportunities including conservation task days and citizen science projects. The lottery does not replace existing park funding but adds to it, so choosing not to participate will not affect your access or experience.

The lottery gives local residents a direct way to fund the conservation work that keeps Richmond Park thriving. Whether you play or not, the park remains free to enter and open to all.

The lottery comes at a time when public funding for park maintenance continues to face pressure, making community support increasingly valuable for protecting the green spaces many of us use daily.

Frequently asked questions

Is the lottery only for Richmond Park?

No, proceeds support all eight Royal Parks, but Richmond Park is part of the charity’s estate and benefits from the shared funding pool for conservation projects, staff, and habitat work.

How much of my £1 goes to conservation?

The Royal Parks charity is regulated by the Gambling Commission. A portion of each ticket funds prizes and administration, with the remainder going to conservation work. Exact percentages are published in the lottery terms on The Royal Parks website.

Can I buy tickets as a gift?

Yes, you can purchase lottery entries for someone else. Check The Royal Parks website for gift options and how to set up entries in another person’s name.

What happens if I win?

Winners are notified by email or post depending on how you registered. Prizes are paid directly into your bank account or by cheque. You can find full prize claim procedures on The Royal Parks lottery website.

Useful resources

• The Royal Parks – Richmond Park
• Richmond Park conservation projects