Report on the 2025 AGM 

More than 65 loyal members turned up for the 2025 AGM in The Orangery, to hear an update on park matters and keen to ask questions.

All votes were carried:
• Minutes of the 2024 AGM were approved.
• Accounts for 2024 were approved and have since been filed with the Charity Commission.
• All trustees were re-elected: Jennie Kettlewell (Chairman), Silvi Spassov (Treasurer), Rhoddy Wood (Secretary), Nigel Brockmann (governance), Graham Franklin (member database), Sandra French (art exhibition), Nicholas Hopkins (website), Joy Puritz (editor). Two new trustees, Phillip Hou and Isabelle Beaumont were elected.
• Roger Foreman was re-elected as independent examiner.

Nicholas Hopkins reported on achievements in 2024: scoping for the Old Dairy conservation, funding of hedging whips for woodland enclosures, continuation of the proactive tree healthcare programme and funding of wildlife talks organised by the Ecology Service. Some 25 events were carried out by The Friends during 2024, the largest being the Art Exhibition.

Rhoddy Wood reported that 140 members had joined in 2024, compared to 120 in 2023, but the net gain was only 20, due to members moving or failing to renew. Rhoddy thanked Margaret Rhodes and her team of newsletter deliverers, who save around £5,000 each year in postage. She also thanked members who helped by telling us when they changed their address, filled in forms correctly and on time.

Chairman, Jennie Kettlewell, explained the progress made so far this year and plans for improvement in the park: low fence with two openings to be erected around the Walking Man area in April 2026, Natural Flood Management work to start shortly to control excess water during torrential rainfall, peafowl will return to Holland Park this spring with their survival dependent on not being fed by the public. Planning and Listed Building consent had been obtained for the Old Dairy conservation. Isabelle Beaumont is leading the project for The Friends working with Senior Parks Project Manager, Sarah Brion.

A busy calendar of events for 2025 includes Blue Badge tours, pop-up events in the Café Yard, bird walks, tree identification walks, the summer party and Christmas Concert.

Thanks were given to the French family for another highly successful art exhibition, to the trustees for their dedication to running the charity, to president Eric Ellul for his support, and to the members for their loyalty.

Photo by Jennie Kettlewell

(June 2025)

AGM – come and hear about plans and achievements

Wednesday 9 April 7.30 pm in The Orangery, Holland Park 

Please put the date in your diary and do come along, with your comments and questions. The formal part (voting to approve the 2024 accounts and voting for your trustees) is usually over quickly, and then we will have time to talk about future projects and to hear your questions and suggestions. As always, there is a great deal going on in the park and real challenges continue as we play our part in influencing the management of this complex park, when RBKC budgets remain very tight.

Our president, Eric Ellul, will chair the meeting and keep it all on track and on time.

Often, when it seems things are going well, people don’t feel they need to come to the AGM. But please do come as there are still issues, as there will be with any park. We also need your votes at the meeting to ensure your committee remains in place to carry on the work. Come and challenge us with thoughtful questions and share your ideas. The trustees need your support and want to know that we are representing you.   

Members should please register to attend by contacting your chairman on jennie.kettlewell@thefriendsofhollandpark.org or calling 020 7243 0804.

We look forward to seeing lots of you on Wednesday 9 April.

Jennie Kettlewell

[February 2025]