WORK is well under way on the long awaited restoration of the Water Garden after Merton  Council abandoned efforts to employ a large-scale landscaping firm and returned to the plan agreed last winter with the Friends. This involves a £15,000 project to dig out all the silt, excessive vegetation and weeds, restore the edges and reinstate the cascade effect. The work is being done by Denny & Son, the grounds maintenance contractor from the All England Club.

Shown above (left) are the Water Garden as it once was, when choked (centre) and after clearance (right). New fencing has since been installed, re-turfing and replanting of non-invasive plants such as skunk cabbage are planned, and bamboo will be removed from beside the bridge. This will link the water flows on each side of the lawn and open the vista towards the golf course.

The Friends agreed last winter to contribute £5000 towards restoration of the Water Garden and weeding of the Azalea Dell with Merton providing the £10,000 balance. However instead of going ahead with the basic work, Merton sought the full-scale landscaping tenders that proved unrealistic. This followed earlier work by the Friends on a bid for special government funding to restore the Water Garden. That had involved consultations with Merton and the company that had restored the water garden at the Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park. However, the bid had not proceeded because Merton had then failed to provide the necessary support.

This time, the Friends' will pay £4000 towards the Water Garden restoration and another £1000 if Merton also removes brambles and other weeds from the nearby Azalea Dell, itself restored a few years ago after a major fund-raising effort by the Friends.

For More Information Contact:

Friends of Cannizaro Park
Willow House, 35 High Street, Wimbledon Village, London, SW19 5BY
Email: tony.matthews@blueyonder.co.uk