By making a donation, Chiswick residents, London garden and culture lovers and supporters from further afield can help put the finishing touches to three new community spaces – as well as earning themselves one of a range of rewards, from limited edition pinbadges, seed mixes and postcards to their name on a celebratory brick or bench, or even expert advice for their own garden.
The Clore Learning Space in the Learning Hub and Foyle Learning Yard at Chiswick House & Gardens will welcome 10 times as many schoolchildren and twice as many charity partners to the gardens, to connect with nature and learn where food comes from. The Learning Hub & Yard will be open year-round for visitors to enjoy and to hire for celebrations, meetings and classes. The Kitchen Garden Hub will provide much-needed new facilities for volunteers.
To make the new spaces ready to welcome the local community, Chiswick House & Gardens Trust is aiming to raise £165,000 through public donations. The money will pay for raised beds, planters and plants to bring the spaces to life; awnings to provide shade for school groups and visitors; and vital fixtures and fittings including indoor and outdoor furniture, kitchen equipment and storage.
Xanthe Arvanitakis, Director at Chiswick House & Gardens Trust, says: ‘‘We need your help to make these new spaces beautiful, welcoming and ready for everyone this summer. Your support will mean more people of all ages will have the chance to enjoy all that is special about Chiswick House & Gardens. Your generosity will help to build a future for this extraordinary place that is as inspiring as its past. Thank you.’’
The new spaces are:
- Learning Hub with the Clore Learning Space
A new, net-carbon-zero building designed as a flexible and practical space, it will be open year-round to support the expanding school and community programmes and to welcome people to connect, learn and celebrate. - Foyle Learning Yard
A new outdoor space for everyone, in the working heart of the estate, thoughtfully designed for learning, celebrating and watching the world go by. - Kitchen Garden Hub
A brand new base for volunteers with a kitchen, sheltered seating area, storage, a drying room and an accessible toilet, all ensuring more people will be able to help with the everyday care of the gardens and enjoy the benefits of working together.
The project will be completed this summer with the official opening in September.
Make a donation and secure your reward at crowdfunder.co.uk/p/chiswick-house-and-gardens