Fiona’s Scented Garden

About eight years ago, the Friends of Wandsworth Park started querying a locked-off but coveted area of riverside park land. Why could no one have access? Why did it sit there empty, day after day?

When the new development that abutted the space was built in the 1980s, this pocket of land was retained by the Council with a hope to extend the riverside walk. It was land designated as part of the park.

Our queries about the terrace continued to fall on deaf ears. As we later discovered, it had allegedly been closed following claims of anti-social behaviour on the site by the neighbours, but no one from the Council was prepared to state that outright What didn’t make sense was the fact that the anti-social behaviour continued in the unlocked side of the park, as well.

Then, after more than three years of being locked, a planning application was submitted by the neighbours for “change of use”. The neighbours wanted to obtain a very long lease of the land and extend their gardens to the river.

Luckily a very vocal and angry community took up the fight, alongside the Friends of Wandsworth Park. The Friends investigated the available options, and we immediately applied for Asset of Community Value (ACV) status and the right to manage the space, as we had been requesting for years. We were now well-aware that the Council had long been in communication with the neighbours, almost agreeing to grant the long lease without seeking the proper permissions; this evidence only strengthened our case.

We needed 25 signatures from the community to back our application. The
request was sent to our members and the community, and within minutes we received over 50 signatures. As a result, we were granted the ACV status; this was significant in the planning application process as it prevented the Council from simply granting the “change of use” status, as it was now restricted. The Friends were also given a greater say in the site’s future.

The planning application was denied – a huge moment of relief for the Friends – and we commenced negotiations with the Council for how we would manage the site. However, on the day before their deadline, the neighbours challenged the decision and chose to appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. The Friends and the community were furious; we now approached Wandsworth Planning and insisted they join forces with us to fight the plan together. Our entire objection process had to be repeated, but this time the ACV status put us in a strong position. With the stellar support of the community, and in collaboration with the Council, we submitted our respective objections.

The few months’ wait for the decision was a nail-biting time. We knew that if we lost this appeal, there would be no other place to go; the government’s decision was final. At last the decision came, and their application was again denied.

The few months’ wait for the decision was a nail-biting time. We knew that if we lost this appeal, there would be no other place to go; the government’s decision was final. At last the decision came, and their application was again denied.

“This was a very exciting and celebratory time, and our official opening was an extraordinary opportunity to share it with the community.”

After nearly a year of seriously hard work, the Friends were granted the right to manage the space. Fiona Garnett Crumley, a member of our committee and a very well-known and respected horticulturist, suggested it be turned into a scented garden. With the relevant approval and support she commences the implementation of her plans, and with the help of many volunteers we had the space cleared, improved and replanted.

This was a very exciting and celebratory time, and our official opening was an extraordinary opportunity to share it with the community. The space has proved to be the most popular area of the park.

Unfortunately, a few years later, Fiona lost her battle with cancer, and the Friends were devastated. We wanted to show our extraordinary gratitude for her expertise and commitment to Wandsworth Park, so – with full Council backing – we have renamed the space Fiona’s Scented Garden. It’s a magical area, far from noise, sports and dogs, and is used every day by a huge mix of people, old and young alike. We continue to garden and care for the space. It is opened and closed daily by volunteers, and we have even installed a telescope!

If you’re ever in the area, please do make the time to stop by. You will be transported to an area where you can truly relax, appreciate the planting, engage in some mindfulness as you watch the Thames tides flow past before your eyes, and enjoy the local wildlife entertaining you.