Black and white photo of Gwendwr Gardens from 1949
A small, much-loved West Kensington park that’s nearly 70 years old is getting essential refurbishments.
Gwendwr Gardens was opened in 1949 after being gifted to what was then Fulham Council by the Gunter Estate as a memorial to those residents from West Kensington who died in the bombings of the Second World War.
In recent years though, the foliage has become overgrown and some of the paving – which is the original paving from the parks opening in 1949 – has become uneven so the park is getting a much-needed make over so it can be enjoyed for years to come.
“Gwendwr Gardens is a lovely piece of West Kensington and an important memorial to residents who died in the blitz, so we are pleased it is getting this investment,” said Cllr Wesley Harcourt, H&F Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Residents’ Services.
“The works, which include repairing paving along and planting areas of native woodland flowers, should give this charming and much-loved green space a new lease of life just in time for spring.”
The gardens have remained largely in the same form as when first created in 1949, with many of the original features. But now many of the trees and shrubs need to be cut back to open up the park’s views again.
The park will remain closed during the works, which are expected to be complete in April.
The sunken garden in the centre of the park will be given a new lease of life by being filled with colourful plants. And native flowers will be planted in shady areas to help boost biodiversity.
The triangular park, which is just under an acre, is enclosed by Gwendwr Road, Trevanion Road and Gunterstone Road.
It is named after the Gunter family’s home in Wales.
