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RUNNYMEDE PLEASURE GROUNDS

The name "Runnymede" is synonymous with Magna Carta. Everybody knows the significance of the date 1066, and 1215 is not far behind it in national consciousness. Moreover, the two dates do have a relationship, in that the battle of Hastings saw the overthrow of a Saxon dynasty by a new European power whose differing attitudes were finally called to account at Runnymede.
Nowadays, the road through Runnymede is thick with cars on their way to Windsor but if you stand with back to the road and look across the rolling meadows to the glittering band of the Thames, and the hanging willows beyond, you see a landscape which probably has not changed since 1215. These open meadows were an ideal place for a meeting of powerful men, leaving ample space for their private armies, tents and horses.

Today the majority of the 188 acres of historic meadows where the Magna Carta was sealed belong to the National Trust and are visited by thousands of people throughout the year. The Thames is broad, calm and peaceful here; there is little commercial traffic on the river apart from cruise boats, along with the varied attractions close at hand Runnymede draws visitors from all over the world.

• Langham Ponds.
• The John F. Kennedy Memorial.
• National Trust Celebration Trees.
• The Magna Carta Memorial.
• Runnymede Pleasure Grounds.

Langham Ponds.

Langham Ponds is a designated site of special scientific interest and is formed as an ox-bow lake from the original channel of the River Thames.
The Ponds cover an area of 12 acres and are extremely rich in flora and fauna. Langham Ponds has the best example of wetland flora in Surrey and is one of the most important wetlands protected by the National Trust.

Celebration Trees.

While walking across the meadows from Langham Ponds towards the Magna Carta Tea Room you will pass the memorials to John F. Kennedy and the Magna Carta, often overlooked are two oak trees. One (shown on the left here) was planted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the 7th December 1987 to mark National Tree Week, the other (shown on the right) was planted with soil from Jamestown, Virginia, the first permanent English settlement in the Americas on December 2nd 1987 by John Marsh the Secretary of the USA Army.

Runnymede Pleasure Grounds.

Central to the meadows and the river is the Runnymede Pleasure Grounds. This is an area of open space very popular during the summer season. At this time the river bank can be full of people quietly fishing with the field behind populated by families picnicking and enjoying the open space.

A large pay and display car park, boat trips to Staines and Windsor, refreshment pavilion, children's paddling pool and modern play equipment are all on hand.

Take along some lunch and cool drinks ensure that the sun is turned on. Park your car in the Pay and Display car park on the pleasure grounds. Taking the drinks with you, carefully cross the main Windsor Road have a look at the plan by the stile. Start heading left at the beginning as you cross the meadows following the footpaths you will go behind the Langham Ponds, pass the Magna Carta and JFK memorials, see the oak trees. Take ice-cream at the Magna Carta Tearoom now follow the River Thames back to the car for lunch and a restful afternoon on the pleasure grounds.

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