RARE Shire horses will be returning to Bushy Park to offer carriage rides for Easter 2022, it has been announced.

Traditional shire horse carriage rides are a popular seasonal treat for park visitors and usually happen over the summer and around Christmas.

This year, a limited number of rides are available on the four days of the Easter weekend, from Friday 15 to Monday 18 April.

Shire horses were common in the mid-1800s as the means of transporting ale from breweries to pubs, but are nowadays mainly used for forestry work and leisure riding.

They have links to the Tudor 'Great Horse' that was highly valued by Henry VIII - and working shire horses are now based near the King's former residence, Hampton Court Palace.

Shire horses are incredibly strong and have an easy-going temperament, but nowadays they are rarer than pandas.

The animals will be making the trip from Operation Centaur at Holly Lodge in Richmond Park to Bushy Park for the rides.

Find out more and book your ticket HERE

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