The Royal Parks is an organisation within the UK Government that manages the eight Royal Parks and certain other areas of garden and parkland in London.

They are an executive agency of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The Chief Executive of the agency is Mark Camley, appointed in 2005.

[edit] Role

Management and conservation of the 1976 hectares of Royal Parks ^[1] are the agency's primary focus. They run programmes of activities and events to encourage outdoor recreation and public access to these areas. They also allow third parties to run such activities within the grounds to further these objectives, but commercial activity is tightly controlled.

They also regulate filming, audio recording and the taking of photographs in these areas for anything other than personal use through the issuing of licences. They also issue news permits to the media for the specific purpose of covering breaking news items relating to the Parks. Holders of the licences and permits are required to comply with the following pieces of legislation.

• The Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces Regulations 1997^[2]
• Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces (Amendment) Regulations 2004^[3]

As well as the eight Royal Parks, the agency manages Brompton Cemetery, Grosvenor Square Gardens and the gardens of 10, 11 and 12 Downing Street.

[edit] GreenFleet Awards 2005

In September 2005, The Royal Parks were awarded the EST Best Practice (Public Sector) Award at the GreenFleet Awards ^[4]. The awards recognise achievements in green fuels and alternative transport technologies. The agency negotiated a contract for the installation of LPG fuel bunkers and the supply of fuel in four of the parks under its remit. Each new contract awarded by The Royal Parks requires the contractor to use green fuel.

[edit] References

1. ^ http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo020207/text/20207w18.htm Written answer to the House of Commons] from the Head of the Royal Parks Service, 7 February 2002
2. ^ "The Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces Regulations 1997". www.opsi.gov.uk. Office of Public Sector Information. http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1997/19971639.htm. Retrieved 2006-11-02. 
3. ^ "Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces (Amendment) Regulations 2004". www.opsi.gov.uk. Office of Public Sector Information. http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2004/20041308.htm. Retrieved 2006-11-02. 
4. ^ "Success for LPG Users at Green Fleet Awards". www.conocophillips.co.uk. ConocoPhillips. http://www.conocophillips.co.uk/stations/autogas/Latest_News/Success_for_LPG_users_at_Green_Fleet_Awards.htm. Retrieved 2006-11-02. 

[edit] External links

• The Royal Parks - the agency's official web site
• James Purnell - Royal Parks Refuses Hansom Cab Access