New signage for the Royal Parks - with a 'Quentin Blake' touch
Tuesday 20th February 2024
Quentin has partnered with The Royal Parks charity to create illustrations in iconic London parks such as Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park.
The Royal Parks has commissioned 27 designs from Quentin Blake to appear on signage across the parks. Currently, these signs are visible in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, and they are undergoing a pilot phase in Greenwich Park, with installation across additional parks expected in the future.
This project is part of a wider plan to improve, upgrade and standardise signage and interpretation across all of London’s Royal Parks by 2026. The Royal Parks charity, which manages, protects and improves the parks, looks after eight of London’s finest open spaces. Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, St James’s Park, The Green Park, The Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill, Greenwich Park, Richmond Park and Bushy Park are managed by the organisation. It also manages other important open spaces in the capital, including Brompton Cemetery and Victoria Tower Gardens.
Lucy Kellett, Head of Visitor Experience at The Royal Parks charity, said: “Urban green spaces all face the same challenges such as littering, dog fouling and wildlife feeding. Signage on these topics can often fade into the background. We want to experiment with a fresh approach to some of our signs so that visitors feel welcome in the parks while respecting the rules. Quentin Blake’s signs are, quite literally, pieces of art and we hope that when people stop to appreciate them, they will smile but also understand the serious messages that lie behind the playful images. We all have a responsibility to care for our valuable green spaces.”
Quentin Blake, who lives in West London, drew inspiration for the drawings from what he imagined might take place in the parks. He said: “I am delighted that my drawings will find themselves in the Royal Parks. The inclusion of my illustrations on signs means that visitors can enjoy them, and that the everyday park rules and admonitions are offered in a cheerful and friendly spirit.”
For further information please visit: www.royalparks.org.uk and follow The Royal Parks on X @theroyalparks, Facebook.com/TheRoyalParksLondon and Instagram.com/TheRoyalParks.