Students from Old Oak Primary School cut the ribbon at Braybrook Street playground
Hammersmith & Fulham Council has spent nearly £200,000 of grant money on improvements to Wormwood Scrubs.
The works have increased accessibility, refurbished rundown paths, and installed new play and exercise equipment.
“Wormwood Scrubs is one of our borough’s greatest gems and our largest outdoor space,” said Cllr Alex Sanderson, H&F Cabinet Member for Children and Education, and Chair of the Wormwood Scrubs Charitable Trust.
“Everyone should be able to visit and enjoy it and, thanks to the new paths and accessible equipment, anyone who wants to can now escape the hustle and bustle of daily life and enjoy an hour or two in this area of incredible natural beauty.”
For kids by kids
We have extended the Braybrook Street playground, found in the south-west of the Scrubs, by adding new play and exercise equipment.
The playground design was co-produced with Old Oak Primary School pupils in Years 4, 5 and 6, who officially opened the park with a ribbon-cutting last month.
The children decided on a zip wire, trampoline, activity trail, climbing net, monkey bars, slide and climbing frame, as well as an accessible basket swing.
These improvements were funded with £69,173 from HS2’s Community and Environment Fund.
Open to all
The Scrubs’ three main entrances, along Old Oak Common Lane, Braybrook Street and Scrubs Lane, have also been redesigned and rebuilt to improve accessibility.
The original wood-chip walkways became muddy, boggy, and slippery when wet – inaccessible to wheelchairs and buggies.
They have been replaced with new durable and eco-friendly self-binding gravel footpaths, often used by organisations such as the National Trust. The new walkways help with drainage and are easy to maintain, keeping paths clear all year round.
To support the Scrubs’ high biodiversity new foliage is going to be planted around the paths. The greenery will have native wildflowers and a high mix of grasses, including wild garlic and marsh marigold. Bulbs such as bluebells and snowdrops, will also be planted in the autumn, ready for a bright display next spring.
Some of the planting is being carried out by volunteers working with H&F.
These improvements have been made with the help of Wormwood Scrubs Charitable Trust and the Friends of Wormwood Scrubs who worked with the council.
Enjoy everything the Scrubs has to offer
To make your stroll down these new paths even better, we have also improved Wormwood Scrubs’ community areas.
Across the site we have repositioned the bins, so that they are easy to find and accessible to all.
Old Oak Common Lane’s walkway leads to a scenic picnic area, complete with new accessible picnic benches – so that everyone can enjoy the meadow area.
Braybrook Street’s path takes you directly to the Scrubs’ outdoor gym and play area, where we have added more accessible picnic tables.
Scrubs Lane’s walkway brings you to the corner of the playing fields and a newly installed park bench.
The walkway and community area works were funded with £110,000 from the OPDC Good Growth Fund.
Come and see the improvements for yourself and enjoy all the Scrubs have to offer.
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