Who are the Friends of Cannizaro Park?
In 1996, local residents set up the Friends of Cannizaro Park as a voluntary group to protect the garden for the long term after years of damaging local authority budget cuts. In the decade that followed the membership grew more than ten-fold and by fund-raising and working in partnership with Merton Council, achieved some notable improvements. Within a few years the group had over 550 members and inspired creation of similar groups for other parks in the Borough of Merton. It became an essential component in the council's plans for parks borough-wide.
Overnight security was improved. New facilities included notice-boards, cycle racks and upgraded paths. Major re-plantings were carried out in the Azalea Dell, Iris Beds, Water Garden, and the path leading from the Main Entrance on Wimbledon Common Westside. An anniversary ceremony was organised in 1999, celebrating 50 years of public ownership. A spectacular new Millennium Fountain was commissioned involving a competition among sculptors and the work itself was formally presented in 2001. Other local or visiting artists were encouraged to use the park for their original works. Historic sculptures such as the bust of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie and the statue of Diana and the Fawn were restored. The first of these commemorates the Emperor's temporary exile in Wimbledon, the latter is listed by English Heritage in its own right. With all this under their belt, achieved either directly or by working with partners, in 2006 the Friends celebrated their own tenth anniversary.
Most recently the Friends have funded the creation of a new Herb Garden containing specially carved benches and new signposts in three crucial areas of the park.
They have also organised guided walks, children’s events, and annual lectures on subjects linked with the plants and history of this park and others. Booklets, postcards and DVDs have been published for sale, quarterly newsletters distributed, introductory leaflets printed, and this web site created and developed since 2004.
Please support the Friends of Cannizaro Park now and help to preserve one of London's finest gardens as a place for future generations to enjoy. Annual membership still costs only £5 a head while a life membership scheme involves a single payment of £100, to be used towards any of the special projects undertaken to preserve and enhance Cannizaro Park for future generations.