Park Life: The Memoirs of a Royal Parks Gamekeeper

by John Bartram, John Karter, David Attenborough

"Retire? You can't retire!" Sir David Attenborough told John Bartram, when the man who has been gamekeeper and senior wildlife officer for Richmond Park for the past 30 years announced his intention to step away from the role, bidding farewell to the iconic park which has been his home, the backdrop for a career many would give anything for, and a way of life for so long. During a career spanning four decades John has been the behind-the-scenes mastermind ensuring the welfare and maintenance of Richmond Park's world-famous herd of deer—widely thought of as the finest herd in captivity. Working with these fabled creatures has demanded balancing their needs with the very real, and often fatal, dangers the park's visitors pose to his herd, and John pulls no punches when it comes to his opinion on the deer's place in the scheme of things, the human "invaders" and the collision of their two worlds. A remarkable diary chronicling the final year of John's charmed life as the guardian of Richmond Park, this memoir tells of the unique demands of each new season, and of the enormous wrench he will feel upon no longer waking up in the midst of so much unchanged and wild beauty. Park Life is a treasure trove of stories and memories, some poignant and moving, others offbeat and hilarious: from the quirk of fate and farcical interview that led to him getting the job, to living in close-quarters with the deer, the tragedy of putting down fatally wounded animals, and the annual ritual of the rut—as dependable as the rising and setting of the sun.

Genres: Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

Published October 25, 2019

About the author

American botanist John Bartram established the first garden in the Colonies in 1728, corresponded with Europeans, thus introduced many species, and fathered William Bartram.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ba...

Reviews

[Neil Mach · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to work in Richmond Park for many years and I'm mentioned in one of John's memories in this book [I'm not going to reveal which one!] This is an honest account from an ordinary bloke who worked an extraordinary job in London's only Nature Reserve... an area of 2,500 acres to the West of the City that has not altered since Tudor times. It's about the life-and-times of a City dweller who worked a country-man's life on the door-step of the Nation's Capital, in a setting that is as intensely mysterious as it is extraordinarily beautiful.

[Ben Belchak · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a resident that lives less than a mile away from Richmond Park, when I saw this book in the local bookshop, I was obviously intrigued. I've always wondered what it takes to maintain the magnificent herds of deer that live in Richmond Park, and this book doesn't disappoint in the description of the work that goes into it on a daily basis.

I read the book basically in an afternoon on a lazy Sunday, and I learned a lot about my favourite place in London. The writing is not the best; there were several typos and grammatical errors, which is why I'm giving it only 3 stars. To be fair, the author is a career gamekeeper, not an author. However, I would recommend this book to anyone who loves Richmond Park and is curious about it. It's a fascinating look into the life of the head gamekeeper as he approaches retirement. I especially liked the end, which is essentially his journal from the final week of his career before he retired.

I ended the book wanting to meet the man who wrote it; perhaps buy him a beer at his local sometime. I also ended the book wanting to get more involved with the park.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having lived in spitting distance from Richmond Park for a vast portion of my life, it was a given that I pick up this read. Bartram provides a fascinating portrait of a year in the life of the royal park, it’s flora and fauna. The book talks about the annual controversial but necessary deer cull, and the other aspects of management it takes to keep such a large conservation area in top condition.

However, I did find the style of the prose quite clunky and repetitive - the editor in me questioning whether this text had seen an edit. Saying that, PARK LIFE is still an interesting read, especially if you love the Park or are a keen naturalist.

[Cade · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read. Read this book with a pint of ale and you will feel like you have been transported to a barstool in an English pub having a chat with one of the local old men. Like any good chat with an old man in a pub, the story can be interesting and full of entertaining stories, but it can also get repetitive.

It is an inside look behind the scenes of Richmond Park. It’s much more complicated than a simple public common and knowing that will make it more enjoyable to visit.

[Yann Hulot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very easy to read and full of anecdotes about the life of a gamekeeper.
It is sad to see the damage that humans do to their environment.
I enjoyed this book and recommend it to all nature lovers.
Bonus: it has some very nice pictures of deers.

[Alastair · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve not encountered many people that truly love the work they do, so it’s a rare treat hearing from one that describes from beginning to end a 30 year journey of a career that never felt like a chore, yet fully encompassed their life.

I think retirement for all of us is the end goal, and we work every day to move towards a comfortable one, but hearing from a man that once it arrives for him, has mixed feelings from relief, to disappointment that what comes next might not be as enjoyable as what has come before is thought provoking, and has made me reflect on the past, how I currently see the future, and ponder what I will look back on once I’m at that stage.

Although it did take me longer to finish this book than most normally would for this size, I’m glad I read it, and I’m grateful to my sister for gifting it to me years ago. I think the reflections will stick with me for a long time.

[Mrs B · Rating 4 out of 5]

We get a lot of fallow deer visiting our garden so I found this memoir fascinating. It’s the reflections of John Bartram, retired head gamekeeper at Richmond Park. He shares all sorts of interesting information about deer (their seasons, their mating, the way they eat, how their antlers grow, why they should be culled) and also paints a colourful picture of life in Richmond Park.

Batram’s daily round of jobs is varied, from knocking down caterpillar nests to untangling stag/buck antlers - and he makes his contempt for human cruelty and idiocy clear. It’s both an entertaining and an informative read.

[Janet Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a light read this book is a delight, and gives such a fascinating insight into the life of a Gamekeeper. How different it must be to work somewhere like the Highlands of Scotland, compared to John's patch which is Richmond Park on the edge of London.
The deer are a delight, and I learnt so much about them that I didn't know before. The nightmare is the public who are just so stupid! Fancy wanting to take a photo between two rutting stags!
Recommended

[Ella · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great insight into the life of Richmond Park and all the work that goes into caring for the array of animals that call it home. Often while navigating the difficulties presented by park visitors and the huge changes the last few decades have created.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simply written but the subject matter and the story is so beautiful that you don’t really need much more. The final chapter are particularly heart warming and wonderful. Good luck with the rest of your life John.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the most well written book, feels more like a conversation, but then the author is not a writer. However this is a fascinating collection of anecdotes by the gamekeeper who’s been looking after Richmond Park and their famous deer for 30 odd years. Super interesting read!

[Katie Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely memoir of John Bartam' 30 years working as a keeper and more recently, Chief Wildlife Officer at Richmond Park. I loved hearing all of the stories and memories he had working with the herd of deer. I also learnt a lot about them too!

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book that tells the story of Richmond Park over 30 years, from the point of view of its Gamekeeper. Extremely detailed and blunt, it tells the highlights and realities of working with the deer and its an incredibly interesting read.

[Willen P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful insight into the going ons of Richmond Park, the deer and the 'silliest animal of all' through the eyes of the former gamekeep whose memories are printed in this set of memoirs

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story = 5 | ghostwriter/editor = 3

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite repetitive. Even at 220 pages to long.

[Tom S-T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insight into deer management in London.
Highlights the many benefits and the reasons behind culling deer. A great example of the conservation work that deer stalkers/managers do

[JJE · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic little book demonstrating the varied life of a royal park game keeper. I was amazed how similar managing Richmond Park is to managing any nature reserve and how open and honest the author was about the trouble with dog owners.

I love the anecdotal side to the book which showed just how passionate Bertram was about not only his beloved deer but the greater good of Richmond Park. The legacy which he has left behind will be a HUGE void to fill if it ever can be.

Thoroughly recommend this wonderful little gem of a book.

[Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a charming book and reads exactly as though it was written, one finger type at a time, by a man who helped make Richmond Park the wonderful place it has become.
A fascinating insight into the role of the park ‘fur and feathers’ keeper.

[Christine Carlton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I heard this guy interviewed on the radio and he sounded so interesting I bought his book. But somehow his personality doesn't come across quite the same in his writing.

[Ox_en · Rating 4 out of 5]

An honest description of gamekeeping and deer management in the context of a challenging urban environment. A rewarding read for nature lovers. Insightful, charming and humorous.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enlightening but also repetitive. Not sure who did the editing, if at all. Felt a bit like it was written in a rush, unfortunately. A light and engaging read.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really wonderful walk through of a whole career. Richly described and very heartfelt. John is a very loveable everyman, and I enjoyed this a great deal.

[Sam Merrett-Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really interesting & enjoyable read.