METROPOLITAN PUBLIC GARDENS ASSOCIATION

Annual Report and Accounts 2017 ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017

CONTENTS 02 OFFICERS 03 INTRODUCTION FROM PRESIDENT 04 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 06 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 08 OUR WORK 09 MPGA GRANTS 2017 16 BULBS FOR 18 2018 UPDATE 21 MPGA FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 26 Claremont Crescent Gardens, Surbiton, RB Kingston-upon-Thames TREASURER’S REPORT

Front cover picture: 27 Nomura Roof Garden by courtesy of Diana Jarvis JOIN THE MPGA

MPGA ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 1 METROPOLITAN PUBLIC GARDENS ASSOCIATION INTRODUCTION FROM PRESIDENT OFFICERS Hugh Johnson OBE President Mr Hugh Johnson OBE

Vice Presidents resigned February 2017 The MPGA was born in a London that For another; the streets are cleaner but the The Rt Rev & Rt Hon the Lord Bishop of London Dickens would have recognised; a city of air impregnated with fumes and noxious The Viscount Davidson squalor and deprivation, where walls were particles. Speed and restlessness are the Sir David Howard Bt black with soot, plants struggled to grow essence of the modern city. As it develops The Master, The Worshipful Company of Gardeners Mr Alistair Gould and children collected horse-droppings (and the cranes are everywhere) it loses the Mr Wesley Kerr OBE to sell for bread. London was expanding sense of place. at a frightening rate: just look at the miles Mr Christopher Woodward The sense of place, of familiar Ms Rosie Atkins FL from October 2017 of terrace houses built in those years, Ms Joyce Bellamy MBE from October 2017 covering fields and farms and swallowing surroundings, is essential to a The Marchioness of Salisbury from November 2017 village after village as Greater London quiet mind. A place in which took shape. Land was for building on. The Chairman Mr William B Fraser OBE Royal Parks were sacrosanct, but even the nature plays a proper part. Hon Treasurer Mrs Marjorie Dowbiggin green squares in the salubrious parts of A seat to allow the body and Hon Secretary Ms Marguerite Potter resigned December 2017 the capital had no statutory protection until mind to settle. The shade of a Hon Minutes Secretary Ms Nicola Freshwater the 20th century. Victoria Park in Tower Grants Officer Mrs Linda Forrest resigned September 2017 Hamlets was the first and grandest project big tree, one that challenges Temporary Grants Officer Ms Ruth Holmes from September 2017 to improve conditions in the East End. the buildings, on a hot day. Executive Committee An expanse of green and a It was a remarkably far-sighted member resigned October 2017 Ms Rosie Atkins FL , Mrs Shirley Brihi, Mr Benedict Bull, of the who cheering burst of colour. Ms Jodie Jones, Mr Mark Lane LVO, Mr Graeme Maynard, determined that the whole capital needed Mr Rex Thornborough RD FCSI, Mrs Paula Tomlinson green lungs; that they could be provided We can all think of corners, triangles, little with local enthusiasm and involvement, parklets that do far more than justify the Hon Legal Adviser Mr Vivian Robinson QC given the help of an organising body. tiny acreage they occupy in the overbearing Hon Independent Examiner Mr John Clark FCA Lord Brabazon was the man, later to cityscape. Too often any open space is Trustees inherit the old Anglo-Irish title of the 12th architect-designed, perhaps statutorily Mr William B Fraser OBE, Mrs Marjorie Dowbiggin, Mr Rex Thornborough RD FCSI, Earl of Meath. The MPGA, founded by him required around a massive development, Mr Alistair Gould, Ms Marguerite Potter resigned December 2017 in 1882, was to be the organising body. more hard landscape than place of rest. They To give the date some context, it was the are swept, the bins are emptied, but nobody year of the Married Women’s Property actually loves them. THE CHARITABLE PURPOSE of the MPGA is the protection, preservation and Act, which gave wives financial autonomy enhancing of public gardens, disused burial grounds, churchyards and open spaces from their husbands (Gladstone was The MPGA exists to help and encourage or land situated within the Metropolitan Area of Greater London; the provision of seats and the planting of trees within places of public resort; and the encouragement of Prime Minister) - and the year Jesse people to love, and engage with, their public interest in the cultivation of gardens or similar public areas. James was shot. environment, to add their own ideas and shape their corner as they would like to see it. The stresses on London are different today Edited by Annabel Ward - but in some senses more intense. For We offer help and advice, and money. We look one thing the capital is enormously bigger; for help, too, and money, too, from members Website www.mpga.org.uk Email [email protected] you can travel for up to thirty miles in a of the public, Londoners who see the point of MPGA@MPGALondon Registered Charity Number 303330 completely urban environment where plants what we do, and care. It all needs doing, as of any kind are an introduced feature. much as ever, 135 years on.

2 MPGA ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 3 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT William Fraser OBE

The recent BBC television series of Britain The scheme is now in its sixth year and in Bloom highlighted the value of greening has benefitted over 660 sites, the bulbs open spaces and other public areas such making a huge impact across London’s 33 as churchyards, school playgrounds, boroughs. So much of the work involved streets and even whole villages. The is carried out by volunteers, whether on series showed just how much can be small sites or large public parks, and they achieved by volunteers encouraged by undoubtedly deserve our appreciation and enthusiastic leaders. For many years the that of their communities. MPGA has supported London in Bloom , LB Bexley and in 2014 awarded the London Spade We also value the support of Bulldog to their Secretary, Ann Holman, for her Tools, who offer our grant recipients a Atkins and Joyce Bellamy. Rosie Atkins and energy. In particular, I would like to services to London’s open spaces. discount on their products, as well as was until recently on our Executive thank Shirley Brihi for again overseeing providing the spade for our London Committee and her input and enthusiasm our Bulbs for London scheme, which We know that the benefits go far Spade Award. Finally we would like to are much missed. Joyce Bellamy MBE, entails a great deal of work in a relatively beyond refurbishing a neglected space record our thanks to The Worshipful who was our long serving Secretary, has short period of time, and for her help with or brightening up a street or railway Company of Gardeners for their annual an unparalleled knowledge of the MPGA recruiting, Twitter, the database and the station with hanging baskets or donation and support. and of the London Metropolitan area. I Annual General Meeting. planted containers. would also like to thank our President The MPGA has had a long association and Vice Presidents for their interest, The MPGA regularly receives requests Such efforts bring the local community with several London Squares and we encouragement and support. from Friends’ Groups and others across together, young and old, and encourage a are delighted to continue our support of London seeking our advice and support. sense of pride in the area. Open Garden Squares Weekend. We have There were also some changes to our It reminds us that in the 21st Century also had a long relationship with London Executive Committee. We were sorry to we are still a very active and relevant Green spaces are vital for City Farms and Community Gardens and lose our Hon Secretary, Marguerite Potter, organisation, continuing to make a our environment, help to again this year funded two prizes which who retired due to her heavy workload. difference across the capital, as we have were awarded at their annual festival. A Linda Forest stepped down as Grants done for the last 135 years. soak up pollution, provide full list of other grants given during the Officer for personal reasons and I would wildlife habitats and, most year can be found in the Financial Report. like to thank her for her excellent work. In importantly, give people a her place, we were pleased to welcome Following his retirement, the Bishop of to the Committee Ruth Holmes who sense of well-being. London stood down as Vice President took on the role on a temporary basis. and I would like to thank him for his We congratulate Ruth on her recent These same values are reflected in the support over the last 20 years. We appointment as Chair of the London Parks grants given by the MPGA each year are delighted that The Marchioness of and Gardens Trust. and our Bulbs for London scheme plays Salisbury has agreed to be come a Vice a very significant role too. Once again, President, thus continuing her family’s Our Executive Committee Members often we are very grateful to Taylors Bulbs of link with the MPGA. We are also pleased visit sites and advise on grant applications Holbeach for supporting this joint initiative. to welcome as Vice Presidents Rosie and I thank them all for their commitment

4 MPGA ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 5 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2017

The most recent Annual General activities on the ground and criticism and garden design, to a cheerful the Fringe has included 1,400 diverse Meeting of the Metropolitan Public encourage local people and work on the history of sweets, but it was ‘events’, including a Bicycling Bavarian Gardens Association was held at projects, rather than rubber as founder of “The Chelsea Fringe” that Beer Garden and a dog show in the Inner 5.30pm on Thursday 12 October 2017 in he addressed the assembly. He explained Temple garden. The common theme Herringham Hall, Regent’s University, in stamp grandiose events. that he came up with the idea of an event throughout, however, has always been the appropriately green urban setting of to complement the RHS Chelsea Flower to encourage community gardening and Regent’s Park, NW1. Show in much the same way that the foster an environment in which gardening Edinburgh Fringe exists alongside the can intersect with other activities. In MPGA Chairman William Fraser OBE was He went on to express relief at the main Edinburgh Festival, as an informal this respect, the aims of this youthful first to address the hall. He welcomed, cancellation of the Garden Bridge project alternative to the highbrow, high priced organisation align perfectly with those amongst others, representatives from and enthusiasm for the Garden Museum main event. of the considerably more mature MPGA several London boroughs, members which had recently reopened following and explain why Mr Richardson was such of various horticultural and heritage an extensive refurbishment. It was now, The Chelsea Fringe, he said “is not a fitting speaker to draw to a close our organisations, and community gardeners he said, ‘an absolute must-visit’ for worthy, but fun.” Since its inception, 135th Annual General Meeting. who had successfully applied for MPGA anyone with even a passing interest in the awards in the past. subject.

At a time when London’s green spaces The President went on to present the are under increasing threat from coveted MPGA London Spade Award to development, he paid particular tribute Roger Taylor and Sue Taylor (no relation!) to the London Children’s Flower Society, representing Taylors Bulbs of Holbeach, London in Bloom, and the remarkable in recognition of their generous support of foresight of MPGA founder Lord Meath, Bulbs for London. For the past five years who in 1880, voiced his concerns about Taylor’s has provided thousands of bulbs deteriorating air quality in the capital. free of charge to more than 550 sites, and in so doing has brightened the lives and The Chairman went on to announce the lifted the spirits of many thousands of appointment of two new Vice Presidents: Londoners in springtime. Rosie Atkins, who recently retired from the Executive Committee, and Joyce Guest speaker for Bellamy MBE, who gave great service to the evening was Tim the MPGA as Secretary over a period of Richardson, who the 25 years. President introduced President Hugh Johnson OBE as the ‘gardener’s intellectual’. As a The London Spade Award presented to Roger Taylor and Sue Taylor on behalf of Taylors Bulbs of was next up to the podium, journalist and author, Holbeach by Hugh Johnson OBE (centre) welcoming the assembled Mr Richardson has guests and reminding them written on an eclectic sweep of topics, that the primary purpose ranging from theatre of the MPGA is to support

6 MPGA ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 7 OUR WORK

HELP MAKE LONDON A GET INSPIRED

GREEN AND VIBRANT CITY Over the years we have supported countless projects which have touched As a charitable organisation we rely solely the lives of ordinary people in everyday on the hard work of volunteers and the places, including parks, community generosity of donations and legacies gardens, churchyards, museum grounds, provided by benefactors. Your support historic houses, hospitals, schools and is vital to us to continue our work in library gardens. MPGA keeping London green for ourselves and for future generations. Visit our website to learn more about GRANTS our work and find out how we can GET INVOLVED AND JOIN US help to develop your project or public green space. 2017 Membership Form page 27 Apply for a grant Volunteer CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP Visit gardens near you

We enjoy working with companies who www.mpga.org.uk share our passion for supporting local communities, improving and protecting green spaces in London. Please contact us to discuss a range of opportunities.

Age UK Centre, LB Merton

8 MPGA ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 9 MPGA GRANTS 2017

CHURCHES park features a shady triangular raised bed, ‘garden like’ and attractive. These will bring which is well used by local residents, which the MPGA granted funds to plant up year-round colour, interest, and height to dog walkers and pupils from an adjacent with appropriate plants to green the area the garden. school. The residents’ group contacted St Mary & Holy Trinity Church and inspire others with similar situations in the MPGA with a plan to enhance a their own gardens. The plants are labelled triangle of land at the entrance to the (Bow Church) with information for the public and the bed Hazelwood Recreation Ground London Borough of Tower Hamlets London Borough of Enfield wider park which had become neglected is maintained by the Friends’ Group. and overgrown. Since the park was After a successful application to the MPGA Hazelwood Recreation Ground is a small already used for dawn chorus walks in 2016, Bow Church followed this up in park bordered by busy roads in the socially and bat spotting, the volunteers wanted 2017 with a request for funds to continue the diverse area of Southgate. In recent years funding to create an improved wildlife transformation of the west churchyard into it had fallen into disrepair as the council corridor which would enhance its habitat a garden. A mix of evergreen and deciduous struggled to fund maintenance. A Friends’ value. The Committee approved funding flowering shrubs and climbers which can Group was set up to improve the area for for three damson trees, flowering hedge cope with dry shade have now replaced the benefit of the community including two plants, primroses and snowdrops to some diseased laurels. neighbouring schools. Their primary focus extend the availability of pollen at both was to plant a range of flowering shrubs ends of the season. This historic church, originally laid out by Salisbury Row Park, LB Southwark and bulbs to encourage pollinating insects Fanny Wilkinson, receives visitors from and associated wildlife to thrive.The MPGA across the world and has noticed an was able to finance the purchase of a good Queen’s Park Gardens increase in the number of regular users Caledonian Park selection of plants, plus hand tools for their London Borough City of Westminster since beginning the work to make the site London Borough of Islington ongoing maintenance. more welcoming. The Friends of Queen’s Park Gardens New Clocktower Place Garden is a relatively maintain the wildlife area of Queen’s Park newly created garden space in Caledonian London Borough of Enfield Gardens and the triangular rosebed in the Park. It is located in the middle of a mixed centre of the gardens. The Friends also help residential redevelopment and is flanked by out on projects throughout the gardens residential roads and overlooked on both The Friends of Pymmes Park volunteer including litter picking. The gardens are sides by recently redeveloped five storey group was formed to protect and revitalise open to the public. Additionally, two nursery blocks of flats. The garden links Caledonian this ‘green haven in an otherwise concrete schools and a primary school use the Park with the business and public transport jungle’ in Enfield. In recent years, the wildlife area for forest school on a weekly facilities of North Road, N7. The MPGA park had been a focus for antisocial basis. The Friends approached the MPGA provided a grant for over 100 climbing behaviour but its ornamental lake and for a grant for plants for an unused part of plants to cover the full length of the bare surrounding grounds had great potential for the Wildlife Area and to fill in the gaps in the perimeter railings to make the area more improvement. The Friends’ Group wanted triangular rosebed. The MPGA was pleased to make this an attractive retreat for local Bow Church, LB Tower Hamlets to approve the grant application. residents and a sanctuary for wildlife. They had already received the support of SCHOOLS PARKS Enfield Council to buy gabions and wetland plants to enrich the waterside when they approached the MPGA for a grant to Christ Church Primary School, Salisbury Row Park purchase wildflower seeds and a bench, London Borough of Southwark which was approved. Battersea London Borough of Wandsworth Salisbury Row Park is a pocket park in the Hilly Fields north of Southwark which continues to be London Borough of Lewisham Christ Church Primary is an RHS level 5 improved by the Friends of Salisbury Row gardening school in the middle of a large Park. The Friends’ Group have researched housing estate. It is also the first school in Hilly Fields is a Victorian hilltop park in and implemented plants which increase Climbers in New Clocktower Place Garden, London to achieve Gold Level accreditation biodiversity and improve air quality. The Caledonian Park, LB Islington the Ladywell area of south for Learning Outside the Classroom. Pupils

10 MPGA ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 11 MPGA GRANTS 2017

are working to transform school grounds the Team further with funding to plant up were pleased to supply the funds to purchase surface access is part of a scheme to and the local area to create a beautiful and beds with soft fruit, herbs and wild flowers, plants for these troughs, as well as funds to provide kitchen gardens for local residents peaceful space for pupils, their families and which will be available for foraging and for purchase edging for tree pits to encourage who do not have their own outdoor space. the local community. They planted daffodils workshops with local schoolchildren. local residents to plant and maintain their The garden club has continued to develop to cheer up their local memorial garden and own patches, and for herbs to reinvigorate the site by planting flower beds, making a are now working with Cleve West, an award- DeptfordFolk Evelyn 200 the community herb garden – free for anyone raised fish pond, and a wet area. They have winning landscape gardener, to transform also added many fruit trees and bushes, London Borough City of Lewisham to help themselves – in a bicycle lock planter. their new playground garden. grape vines, spring bulbs and flowering shrubs. For the second year running, the Having previously received an MPGA grant DeptfordFolk is the constituted user group garden achieved ‘Level 5: Outstanding’, to build raised beds and buy compost, a representing Deptford Park & Folkestone in the London in Bloom awards. MPGA further grant enabled them to purchase Gardens in the Evelyn Ward, Deptford. The granted the club funding for a new shed, as flowers and shrubs to complete the project. local area is the most deprived in Lewisham the old one was not fit for purpose, as well with 40% child poverty and poor health as a water butt. outcomes. It also has the lowest number of trees and worst air quality of any ward in the borough. Access to parks is difficult due to Tyssen Primary School traffic, poor accessibility and permeability. London Borough City of Hackney In 2018, to mark the 200th anniversary of the publication of John Evelyn’s diaries, NorthWestTwo, LB Brent - tree pit edging Tyssen Community Primary School was DeptfordFolk is running EVELYN200 and will awarded land by the local council in order plant 200 trees in the Evelyn Ward. A grant Harington Scheme to improve the space and to continue to develop their gardening group. The garden for 5 trees was requested from and granted London Borough City of Haringey by the MPGA, which have been planted in shares a wall with nearby residents and will parks across the Evelyn Ward. be a shared space between the school, Based on a site that was once used by residents and locals from St. Thomas’ drovers as they rested flocks on their way Church parish. MPGA granted funding for NorthWestTWO Residents’ towards the City of London, the Harington the creation of 15 raised beds, as well as Scheme works with young people aged some fruit trees which will be espaliered Association from 16 to 25 with learning difficulties and/or along the fence. This will allow for an initial London Borough of Brent physical disabilities. By growing vegetables allocation of five beds for the school, five for and flowers which are sold at their market Christ Church Primary School, LB Wandsworth the parish and five for local residents. - Lavender Border This community group in Cricklewood stall or consumed by the clients, young wanted to improve a rather neglected area people learn horticultural, English and maths and engender civic pride through planting. skills, and gain retail experience. The MPGA Marlborough Sports Garden COMMUNITY PROJECTS They had already provided planting troughs were pleased to provide funds for plug London Borough of Southwark to brighten up a kerbside barrier. The MPGA plants to support this project. The Marlborough Sports Garden in Cricklewood Town Team Southwark has been managed under licence London Borough of Brent COMMUNITY GARDENS from the Council by Bankside Open Spaces Trust since 2012, when BOST oversaw The green triangle at the end of Cricklewood Henry Dickens Community the creation of all-weather sports facilities Lane abutting the Cricklewood Railway on the site. Following this first phase, Bridge had been an area of concern for Garden the Trust approached the MPGA with the many years, attracting anti-social behaviour London Borough of Kensington declared intention to put the ‘garden’ into and rough sleepers. The Cricklewood Town & Chelsea the Marlborough Sports Garden. We were Team, a voluntary organisation, cleared the originally asked to fund the purchase of trees site and planted bulbs supplied by Bulbs for A Community Garden in North Kensington and shrubs to fill a series of raised planters, London. With plans to plant trees already in in the Henry Dickens housing estate, but when Palmstead Nursery generously place, the MPGA were pleased to support NorthWestTwo, LB Brent - bicyle lock planter incorporating 21 raised plots with hard donated the plants, it was agreed that the

12 MPGA ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 13 MPGA GRANTS 2017 money should be used to purchase good involved in developing the planting designs ADDITIONAL AWARDS quality soil for the raised beds instead. The and helped to plant the gardens during garden had a high profile opening ceremony community planting days. The MPGA were attended by the family of murdered MP Jo pleased to be invited to contribute to this Open Garden Squares Weekend Cox and local celebrity Tom Daly and is now major project, and provided funding for fruit well used by the local community. trees, hedging shrubs and other plants. Over 230 gardens in London, from Kingston to Rainham, took part in Open Garden Squares Weekend this year. 2017 marked HOSPITALS FARMS the 20th Anniversary of the event and was the largest yet, with a lot of new gardens Woodlands Farm Trust, RB Greenwich Maudsley Hospital Firs Farm including Baring Asset Management rooftop garden, The Deanery in Southwark, Hachette London Borough of Southwark London Borough of Enfield UK, and Trumpeters’ House. Together there were more than 45,000 individual garden The Maudsley Hospital provides in-patient Firs Farm is a large open green space which visits, over 3,000 of them from children. and community mental health care to in the past two years has undergone a The event involved some 900 volunteers in thousands of people from across the major transformation from flat green open various capacities and, as well as opening country. The publicly accessible outside boggy field to an area of wetlands, park and gardens, included Poets in Residence, 60 spaces running through the site were bland, playing fields. The Friends have added a guided walks and many other activities. under-used and lacking in greenery and so mini stumpery along the top of the bank of The Trust is a not for profit charity and the a plan was developed in conjunction with the watercourse that flows through the support of the MPGA is vital, enabling them St. Mary’s Secret Garden, LB Hackney Trees for Cities to transform those areas small woodland. to prepare for this once a year celebration of into beautiful gardens for patients and local London’s green spaces. residents. The hospital community were Following consultations with local residents Trust and St Mary’s Secret Garden, Hackney and park users, the Friends wished to respectively. Prizes help celebrate the provide bulbs which will encourage achievements of young and adult volunteers pollinating insects such as bees, butterflies who cultivate the exhibits. Prizes also boost and hoverflies to further enhance this excitement and morale which encourages special space for both residents and wildlife. engagement in community volunteering. They wanted to ensure that the planting should be colourful, attractive to pollinators London in Bloom and encourage a good habitat. Everybody in the community now has access to Firs Trumpeters’ House, LB Richmond London in Bloom is part of the RHS Britain Farm and naturally the bees, butterflies courtesy of Colin Wing in Bloom, London in Bloom Awards which and beetles have also benefitted. MPGA celebrate the efforts of London’s Boroughs, Orchard at Maudsley Hospital, LB Southwark awarded the Friends of Firs Farm £200 to London City Farms & Communities, Businesses and individuals who purchase bulbs and grasses. do so much to make London such a special Community Gardens place to live, work and visit. Their awards recognise every entrant’s efforts in improving In 2017 the London City Farms & Community their local environment. In 2017, the MPGA Gardens Association applied for a grant continued its support for London in Bloom to support its 19th annual London Harvest with a donation and through sponsorship of its Festival. Projects from 11 different London ‘Common of the Year’ and ‘Heritage Park and Boroughs competed in the horticulture events. Garden of the Year’ awards. The MPGA has supported the show for many years by providing two prizes, one for the Best This year, the Common of the Year prize was Display from a Garden at a City Farm, and awarded to Friends of . The one for the Best Display from a Community Heritage Park and Garden of the Year award Maudsley Hospital Courtyard, LB Southwark Firs Farm, LB Enfield Garden, won this year by Woodlands Farm went to and Gardens Trust.

14 MPGA ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 15 Our very grateful thanks go to Taylors for their tremendous ongoing support. Their BULBS FOR LONDON bulbs, which are world class and regular Chelsea prize-winners, are now spread across over 600 London sites, bringing Last year, 2017, was a bumper year for We also supplied bulbs to many of colour and joy each Spring to residents Bulbs for London. We fulfilled around 120 London’s parks, ranging from Ray Park and visitors alike. requests for bulbs which, for the sixth year and in Redbridge in the running, were supplied by award winning East and Blondin Park Ealing in the West, Taylors Bulbs of Holbeach. The scheme to Alexandra Park Haringey in the North exceeded our expectations and we already and Priory Gardens Bromley in the South. have a long waiting list from applicants for the coming year. Over the years London squares have figured strongly in the scheme, helped As in previous years, the bulb recipients no doubt by our connection with Open came from a wide cross-section of Garden Squares Weekend. We were parks, gardens and organisations across delighted to be able to send bulbs to nine the London boroughs, including nature London squares, including Red Lion and reserves, fire stations, memorial gardens, Argyle Squares in Camden and Granville railway stations and allotments. In 2017, and Union Squares in Islington. Two of we reached out to the London hospices the squares were new to the scheme, ie Rhodes Estate, LB Hackney Addiscombe Recreation Ground, LB Croydon and are delighted to report that six of them Wilton Square in Islington and Ion Square received bulbs: Haven House Children’s in Tower Hamlets - this was laid out by the Hospice LB Waltham Forest, Greenwich & MPGA and opened to the public in 1895. Bexley Hospice, St Joseph’s Hospice LB Bulbs also went to Brunswick Square Hackney, Marie Curie Hospice Hampstead, in Camden and Bonnington Square in St Francis Hospice LB Havering and St Lambeth, two beautiful and very calm Christopher’s Hospice LB Bromley. oases in busy parts of London, both featured by Marc Owen in his blog Marc’s Favourite Gardens which can be seen on our website.

King George’s Playing Field, LB Merton

Planting at Pensford Field, RB Richmond

2018 Update We are delighted to confirm that Taylors Bulbs have agreed to continue their partnership with us for another year. Details can be found on our website. Dartmouth Park, LB Islington Shoreditch Park, LB Hackney Temple Gardens, City of Westminster

16 MPGA ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 17 2018 UPDATE Blog who has been following this on our behalf, the case went in favour of the developers. is in touch with Hackney Council regarding St Johns are now working on the conditions We congratulate our blogger Marc Owen on all aspects of the process and reporting for the development, which is on a very completing his MA in Garden and Landscape developments to the Committee. cramped site with severe access limitation. Database History. Since then he has found the time To date they have successfully prevented in his busy schedule to write two excellent Gardens and Green Spaces a proposal to cut back trees along their border. This development is part of the Free The database will eventually provide blogs for us, one on Brunswick Square Under Threat School Programme, which has been severely information on every site in London with Gardens in Bloomsbury and the other on criticised, and will probably be cut back or which the MPGA has been involved since Bonnington Gardens in Vauxhall. Marc is due As housing needs become more pressing cancelled in the future because of examples its inception in 1882. The details are to write another blog shortly, which we are and, as a result, the threat to green land like this for which the costs have been obtained from the Annual Reports and looking forward to reading. His blogs can be increases, it is essential that the MPGA exorbitant. St Johns feel that they will have other publications. IT specialist Matt Eglin found on line at ‘Marc’s Favourite Gardens’ rises to the challenge. We often hear from contributed to this change of policy by their has continued to assist us during the year, or on the MPGA website. parks, gardens and green sites when they action and consider they have lost the battle mainly in sorting out teething problems find themselves under threat. When we laid but are continuing the fight. encountered as data begins to be entered. Twitter out Christchurch Spitalfields in the 1890s, As we depend on volunteers, this is going to we could never have imagined that in 2018 We’ve also been following the campaign of take some time to complete. Our Twitter account has proved to be a great we would still be fighting to preserve these Northfields Allotments in Ealing, which has success and an excellent way for us to keep historic church gardens. However, in 2016, been highlighted in the London Evening However, early in 2018 we were delighted abreast of what’s happening with London’s they asked for our assistance to oppose a Standard. Thousands signed a petition to welcome Dr Hazel Russman, a retired parks and gardens and the people involved. serious threat of development to the church demanding the preservation of the allotments, database specialist, who has started to work grounds. The case went to appeal but was which are the oldest in London dating back through the early Victorian Annual Reports We now have over 750 followers and turned down. We have recently heard they to 1832. Part of the site had been earmarked and her help with this is proving invaluable. continue to encourage other parks, gardens intend to mount a further appeal, for which for housing for the elderly. Although the Dr Russman is very experienced in her field and organisations to join the world of they have launched a crowdfunding initiative, Allotment Society recognises that there is a and has highlighted a number of points Twitter. The MPGA has been exposed to which the MPGA has donated. housing shortage in London, they feel that this which we need to consider in the future. She to a new audience though Twitter, which should not override the wider needs of local feels that the MPGA database will become has been of great benefit and enabled the Early in 2018, the Chairman wrote a letter communities and the environment, as it would a very important historic document on Association to make some interesting new of support against the development of a represent an irreversible loss of scarce green London’s gardens and green spaces. friends and contacts. school on the boundary of St John-at- space. We’ve now heard that there are other

Hackney, another site with which we have issues involved and the development plans Archives MPGA@MPGALondon had a connection since 1886. At Appeal have been put on hold, although the threat

The search for the Annual Reports continues. In this we have been helped Fairchild’s Garden by another very able volunteer, Leanne Newman. She has a good knowledge and Following on from our Update in last year’s strong interest in the history of London’s Annual Report, we are delighted to report gardens and the personalities involved. She that we have now heard that in September recently wrote an excellent article for The 2018 Hackney Council will invite quotes London Gardener on Kate Hall, a remarkable from Landscape Gardeners for the design woman for her time, who established a of this site. nature study museum in the East End at the beginning of the 20th Century. According to the brief, Hackney Council want to transform the garden into a safe, In the current year she has helped us welcoming, flexible space which meets the to trace a further ten of our 136 Annual needs of the local community. Reports,. This leaves 18 to find, which no doubt are lurking in some dark corner of a This is long awaited news and much museum or university library. welcomed by the MPGA. Rex Thornborough, Northfield Allotments LB Ealing (with kind permission of Paul Bate)

18 MPGA ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 19 has not gone away from this much loved We are also awaiting developments on Island green space. Gardens in Tower Hamlets with regard to the Calders Wharf project and Udney Park Looking at the wider implications across Teddington (LB Richmond), where private London, the MPGA feel there is a real danger developers are planning to build on the that this could lead to other councils using parks playing fields. It has just come to our their allotment space for housing. notice that the Old Tidemill Wildlife Garden in Deptford (LB Lewisham) is under threat of The Green Belt is still under pressure demolition to make way for yet another luxury with around 200 sites threatened with flat development. This is very disappointing, development. The Enfield Road Watch as community sites like this are very few and Action Group (LB Enfield) is a good example far between. We are closely following the of an active community working to protect campaign to save their section of the Green Belt and its wildlife. from planned development and will be ready They are very effective and are determined to comment on the application when it is MPGA to save this Green Belt land, which once lost submitted later this year. would be gone for ever. FINANCIAL SPECIAL PROJECTS STATEMENTS

BLUE PLAQUE APPLICATION

We have recently made an application direction, and she became the first woman to English Heritage for a blue plaque to Principal of Swanley Agriculture College in 31 DECEMBER be erected at 6 Gower Street for Fanny Kent and founded the Woman’s Farm and Wilkinson – the first female Professional Garden Union. In the First World War, the Landscape Gardener in England. Union was active in helping the Government 2017 to recruit women to work on the land. Fanny Wilkinson first became involved with the MPGA in 1884 and was employed by us In the course of our research, it was for a period of twenty years. In this time she interesting to discover that Fanny was created or designed more than seventy five also involved in the Women’s Movement, public gardens in London including Myatts which campaigned for women’s rights Fields, Red Cross Garden, Vauxhall Park and and was instrumental in the struggle for . She also worked on smaller Votes for Women. Fanny was introduced gardens, many in deprived areas, including to the Suffragist Movement through her St Anne’s Churchyard Garden in Limehouse, connection with Millicent Fawcett, a St Mary’s Churchyard Bow, Paddington friend, relative and close neighbour at Street Gardens in Westminster and Gower Street. Wilmington Square in Islington. The majority of these she created under the auspices of As 2018 is the Year of the Woman, it the MPGA, but she also occasionally worked seemed the right time to submit our for the Kyrle Society. application to English Heritage, which we very much hope will be successful, After leaving the MPGA in 1904, Fanny’s although the process can take up to gardening career took her in a different two years.

20 MPGA ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 21 MPGA ACCOUNTS 2017 MPGA ACCOUNTS 2017

Statement of Financial Activities Balance Sheet For the year ended 31 December 2017 31 December 2017

Total Total 2017 2016 Income Capital 2017 2016 £ £ Notes £ £ £ £ Notes

INCOMING RESOURCES FIXED ASSETS Gross dividends received 12,114 - 12,114 11,387 Investments 3 308,349 287,138 Deposit account interest and Gift Aid interest 109 - 109 87 Subscriptions with Gift Aid Recoveries 2,387 - 2,387 1,126 CURRENT ASSETS Donations and subscriptions without Gift Aid 3,938 - 3,938 4,255 Debtors 4 478 176 Cash at bank and in hand 6 19,745 23,410 Total Incoming resources 18,548 - 18,548 16,855 Total Current Assets 20,223 23,586

RESOURCES EXPENDED CURRENT LIABILITIES Grants, affiliation fees & London Spade 2 22,372 - 22,372 12,012 Creditors 5 9,041 4,130 Annual General Meeting 2,382 - 2,382 2,898 Office expenses – incl. postage, stationery, NET CURRENT ASSETS 11,182 19,456 travel and sundries 2,068 - 2,068 3,577 26,822 - 26,822 18,487 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES £319,531 £306,594

Net incoming/(outgoing) (8,274) (8,274) (1,632) REPRESENTED BY:

Gains/(Losses) on investments 21,211 21,211 24,189 Capital Fund 308,349 287,138

Net movement in funds (8,274) 21,211 12,937 22,557 Accumulated Income Fund 11,182 19,456

Balances brought forward at 1 January 2017 19,456 287,138 306,594 284,037 TOTAL FUNDS £319,531 £306,594

Balances carried forward at 31 December 2017 11,182 308,349 319,531 306,594 Approved

W B Fraser Mrs M Dowbiggin The notes on pages 4 to 5 form part of these accounts Chairman Hon. Treasurer

Independent Examiner’s Report: I have examined the financial statements for the year ended 31st December 2017 from the books and records and information and explanations supplied to me. In my opinion the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Association as at 1st3 December 2017 and of its incoming resources and application of resources for the year ended 31st December 2017.

John Clark FCA Chartered Accountant

22 MPGA ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 23 MPGA ACCOUNTS 2017 MPGA ACCOUNTS 2017

Note to the Accounts Note to the Accounts 31 December 2017 31 December 2017

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES 3. FIXED ASSETS Equities (a) Expenditure is dealt with on an accruals basis, which includes making provision at the year end for Investment COIF COIF grants approved which have not yet been paid. Fund for Income Deposit Total (b) Dividends, interest and life subscriptions receivable are credited when received. Charities Units Account 2017 2016 (c) Investments are shown at their market value at the year end. Realised and unrealised gains or losses on £ £ £ £ £ investments are credited or debited to the Capital Account. (d) Contributions received as a result of appeals for capital are credited to the Capital Account. (e) Policy on reserves. The total of grants approved over any given period is chosen to keep income and As at 1 January 2017 143,715 143,323 100 287,138 262,949 expenditure broadly in balance, and avoid the accumulation of large cash balances. It is therefore not Realised and unrealised gains & losses 10,040 11,171 21,211 24,189 appropriate to specify a precise level of reserves to be maintained. As at 31 December 2017 £153,755 £154,494 £100 £308,349 £287,138 2. GRANTS, AFFILIATIONS AND LONDON SPADE 9,360 10,486.77 Grants and Donations Approved Holding in Units

Cost of investments The Camden Society 918 31 December 2017 £5,881 £116,622 £122,503 Christ Church Primary 282 PCC St Mary’s 370 Trees for Cities Maudsley Hospital 1,500 31 December 2016 £5,881 £116,622 £122,503 London in Bloom 1,070 NorthWest Two Res 202 4. DEBTORS St Ethelburgas 2,000 Tax recoveries due £478 £176 Harington Scheme 973 London Parks and Garden Trust 1,000 Cricklewood Improvement Pro 300 5. CREDITORS Queens Park Community 128 Penge Green Gym 493 London City Farms 300 National Trust re Rainham Hall 200 Bermondsey South Community Garden 525 Eden Community 455 Friends of Firs Farm 200 2,448 Friends of Hazelwood 748 Turners House Trust Friends of Pymmes Park 747 Postage etc AGM and Annual reports 534 Cardwell Primary School 500 Family Mosaic Housing Assoc 200 BOST 1,500 Viridis Schools 1,582 Family Mosaic Housing Association 200 300 Viridis Schools 1,582 Bricklayers Arms Tenants Assoc Bricklayers Arms Tenants Association 300 Caledonian Park Friends Group 700 Caledonian Park Friends Group 700 Friends of Hilly Fields 521 Friends of Hilly Fields 521 Henry Dickens Garden Club 1,000 Henry Dickens Garden Club 1,000 Deptford Folk Evelyn 200 1,500 Deptford Folk Evelyn 200 1,500 1,029 Edible Rotherhithe Avondale 1,029 Edible Rotherhithe Avondale Tyssen Family Gardening Group 2,208 Tyssen Family Gardening Group 2,209 Total £22,303 Total £9,041 £4,130 6. CASH at BANK and in HAND Affiliations 8,076 London Forum 19 TSB Bank 5,293 Fields in Trust 50 COIF 14,452 15,334 Total £69 Total £19,745 £23,410

Total £22,372 Included in the COIF amount is £3,000 received from the Worshipful Company of Gardeners for 2018.

24 MPGA ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 25 MPGA ACCOUNTS 2017

Note to the Accounts contInued 31 December 2017

7. COMMITMENTS AT YEAR END JOIN THE METROPOLITAN PUBLIC Contribution Borough £ GARDENS ASSOCIATION Firm Commitments London in Bloom 1,000 London wide London in Bloom Awards 70 London wide London Parks and Gardens Trust re Squares Day 1,000 London wide London City Farms Prizes 300 varies Fairchild Garden 10,000 Hackney The MPGA is a philanthropic charity, established Friends of Meath Gardens 1,000 Tower Hamlets in 1882, that has remained true to its principal The Camden Society 860 Camden object, which is the protection and safeguarding Possible Future Involvement of public spaces within the Greater London area. A further £5000 to Fairchild Garden 5,000 Hackney

Firm commitments are subject to projects, events proceeding as planned. How the MPGA does this has Your membership of only £25 evolved over the years, but its pa helps us make London a dedicated team of volunteers greener and more vibrant city remain committed to providing for generations to come. For small grants and expertise more details of membership TREASURER’S REPORT ON THE 2017 ACCOUNTS to local groups who strive and the work we do visit www. to create and maintain the mpga.org.uk where you will also The financial sector has still been volatile but our investments value rose by approx Capital’s green spaces. find details of life membership £21,000 by the year end which was very pleasing and our dividend receipts also rose for £250 (£150 if over 60 slightly. Our income was increased by £2000 mainly because of a donation from Hugh In 1882 when Lord Brabazon, years of age). We very much Johnson and 3 new life members. later the first Earl of Meath, look forward to meeting new conceived the charity a seventh members at our AGM and if you We were very pleased to receive a donation from the Worshipful Company of Gardeners of the UK population lived in can’t make it we will send you and we also thank the Worshipful Company of Saddlers and Hugh Johnson for their Greater London. Since then a copy of our Annual Report donations together with all our members some of whom made additional donations. As the city’s 4.8 million inhabitants which keeps you abreast of well as providing bulbs O A Taylor and Sons gave us a donation of £375 towards our have doubled to 8.6m, the our activities. AGM for which we thank them. highest since its 1938 peak. Diminishing government funding Complete and return the We approved 27 grants totalling just over £22,000. and growing development is Membership Form overleaf putting huge pressure on our or download the form at green spaces, large and small. www.mpga.org.uk

26 MPGA ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 27 GET INVOLVED AND JOIN US

Name Address Post Code Tel day Mobile Email Signature Date

SUBSCRIPTION RATE - ANNUAL [ ] I want the MPGA to treat all my [ ] Adult £25 [ ] Student/over 60 £15 donations as Gift Aid. I am a UK Taxpayer LIFE SUBSCRIPTION - single payment and understand that if I pay less Income Tax/Capital Gains Tax than the amount of [ ] Adult £250 [ ] over 60 £150 Gift Aid claimed on all my donations in that [ ] Corporate £500 tax year, it is my responsibility to pay any difference. Please tick box. [ ] Donation £ ...... Cheque/Banker’s Order enclosed £ ......

BANKER’S ORDER FORM/DETAILS FOR BACS

Bank Branch Address Post Code Sort Code Acc No Acc Name Signature(s) Date

Please pay MPGA the sum of £ and again on 1 January 20 and on 1 January each subsequent year until further notice. Bank TSB Sort Code 30 93 67 Acc No 00556750 Acc Name Metropolitan Public Gardens Association Argyle Square, LB Camden

RETURN FORM WITH CHEQUE/BANKER’S ORDER TO: A colourful photograph showing flowering Spring bulbs given to the Hon Treasurer, MPGA, 14 Magnolia Way, Cheshunt, Herts EN8 0FD Friends of Argyle Square under the Bulbs for London scheme. 28