| House & Gardens |
Introduction |
Every week Chiswick House and Gardens play host to a wide range of activities, volunteer groups and societies. Here you will find details of the most popular groups and their contact details or weblinks. The Friends website would be pleased to help publicise other activities where possible. |
Heritage Lottery Fund Project |
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The Friends have heard with great pleasure that planning permission for the Lottery Project has been granted and the Heritage Lottery Fund has given stage two approval has has pledged £7.6m towards the £12 million project to restore the grounds of Chiswick House. The Chiswick House and Gardens Trust are now in the last stages of completing the detailed agreement for the main works to commence. In the meantime, preliminary clearing of parts of the site has started. Work will be phased through the gardens and notices will keep the public informed about which areas are currently in the hands of the contractors. During the works the Avenue will, for safety reasons, be closed to pedestrians for most of the time, although access will be unrestricted via most other gates. Any cars using the site will need to be cleared by the contractors, but will be able to service key areas such as the café as well as various events in the gardens, including the Friends’ Night at the Opera on 26 June. The café will stay open until July after which time it is expected that a mobile café will be sited in the area of the cricket pavilion until the new facility, a new café, is opened. The details of the Lottery project can be accessed on the CHGT website at www.chgt.org.uk. The Friends have long recognised the overwhelming case for capital funding for the restoration – without which deterioration will just continue – and has focused its efforts on supporting developments that we think are appropriate and will support future maintenance. To do this, we engaged in two consultations with our members; the first in November 2005 on all the aspects of the bid we thought critical, and the second in March 2006 on specific questions about the café. We have communicated and lobbied these views many times to the Trust, and have been able to influence their plans on several key issues. While the Chairman of the Friends is also a Trustee of the CHGT, we try hard to keep these roles separate and make sure the Friends genuinely represent our members, maintaining a viewpoint that is independent of the Trust. On the other hand we try to avoid some of the more strident views often expressed in the press or by members of the public, and believe strongly in the principle of reasoned and pragmatic debate. Our position is best summed up in a letter we wrote to the Trust in May 2006, following the café consultation. You can read this letter and its attached summary in PDF format here. PDF requires free Adobe Reader software available here. We are pleased that the finally approved plans take account of views expressed by the Friends and through public consultation and and look forward to the exciting restoration and development over the next two years. |
What's Happening in the House & Gardens |
Hire the House |
Toddlers' Playground |
The Friends are supporting the plan to install a small children's playground. It is possible that this excellent facility may have to await the development of the café plan, as the site will probably be in that area. |
Dandelion Playgroup News |
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We are delighted to announce that Dandelion Playtime in the Park re-opened on Monday 19th May under new, but not unkown ownership. The new owners are Jo Reilly, who has been involved at Dandelion for many years, and her partner Sasha Rainford. The playgroup for mothers and toddlers is held weekdays in the cricket pavilion by the cricket pitch. This is an opportunity for mums and carers to meet and there is a big garden area with toys for children to enjoy. Light refreshments are also available. |
Chiswick & Latymer Cricket Club |
Cricket |
Chiswick House and Gardens Trust Appeal |
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Chiswick House Friends are delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has confirmed their £7.6m pledge for the £12 million project to restore the gardens of Chiswick House. We have consulted closely with the Chiswick House and Gardens Trust in developing the project and we have pledged our support for the campaign to raise match funding. With over £3 million raised so far, and with around £1 million to go, we now have the necessary momentum to make this one of the most exciting projects for London. Please donate online at www.chgt.org.uk or by post to Chiswick Appeal, FREEPOST RRBS-CYET-ZJYE, 1 Waterhouse Square, 138-142 Holborn, London, EC1N 2ST. Please make cheques payable to Chiswick House and Gardens Trust. |
Ecology & Use |
The Friends believe that there must be a balance between the natural ecology of the grounds of Chiswick House and its future development. This is broadly to ensure that the natural flora and fauna are preserved and enhanced as the site is restored. It is hoped that all parts of the community will be represented as usage of the gardens develops and that these demands are balanced with the needs of the natural environment. Nick Massie, local naturalist, may be contacted at: nick.massie@gmail.com PDF requires free Adobe Reader software available here. |
Sponsorship |
There are a list of projects and activities that require funding in the House and Gardens. Your support as an individual, company or organisation to assist these developments would be very welcome. For further information and advice please contact secretary@chfriends.org.uk |
Finding Us |
How to Find Us, Entrance Fees, & Opening Times >> Chiswick House Opening Times Tours of the House The tours are free with paid admission to the villa. Pre-booked tours (11 or more people) by appointment only. For the latest information, visit this link >> For detailed directions and access, click here. |
Parkwatch |
Chiswick House Friends is associated with Parkwatch, an independent group created a number of years ago with the objective of helping to make the grounds a safer and more pleasant place to visit. A steering group meets regularly at which varied interested users are represented, as well as the Police, Chiswick Community School, Hounslow Council, their park management company (Burleys) and English Heritage. The Friends are supportive of the Parkwatch aims and one of their trustees sits on the steering group. The views and opinions of park users on issues of relevance are always welcome and these should be directed by e-mail to the Parkwatch Secretary. |
Bat Walks |
London Borough of Hounslow with the Bat Conservation Trust and London Bat Group organised two very successful bat walks in the grounds of Chiswick House in recent years. While there are no dates for similar activities yet this year, we will use this site to publicise any new developments and to keep members informed. New information will be on the home page. |
Dog Walkers |
CHOW--Chiswick House Organised Dog Walkers--was set up in 2006 by a group of local dog owners who regularly exercise their pets in the grounds of Chiswick House. CHOW was formed in response to the proposals outlined by the CHG Trust in their bid to obtain Heritage Lottery funding for the redevelopment and restoration of the House and Gardens. CHOW has a mandate from dog owners to represent them in their desire to continue enjoying the Grounds whilst recognising the needs of the redevelopment and other users. In line with this CHOW has been in discussion with the CHF Trust regarding the continued enjoyment of the Grounds by dog owners during and after the redevelopment and good progress is being made. For more information on CHOW and its aims click on www.chowgroup.co.uk |
Café |
The café is situated to the right of the house (as viewed from the A316) and is a popular place for the local community to gather. Café opening times: On the closure of the café at the end of July, a mobile café will be installed near the Cricket Pavilion. Details will be given here nearer the time. The Café
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