Forthcoming Events
Guided tours of Holland Park
The history of the buildings, people, sculptures, statues, art and the gardens.
Expert Blue Badge Guides will entertain you with fascinating stories about the long history of Holland Park and what went on there.– scandals and all.
Thurs 7 March. 10.30am-12noon. History of Holland House
and the people who lived there. Guide Leila Sukiur
Wed 17 April. 10.30am-12noon. The stories of the statues,
sculptures and decorative art. Guide Rowan Freeland.
Sat 18 May. 2.30-4pm. History of the Holland Park gardens and
grounds. Guide Leila Sukiur.
Book a ticket online or contact Jennie Kettlewell on jennie.kettlewell@thefriendsofhollandpark.org or call 020 7243 0804.
£10.00 per person. Meeting point will be on the ticket.
Book online HERE
[January 2024]
Dates for your Diary
Events in Holland Park
The events listed below are either organized by The Friends (F), or organized by the Ecology Service (ES), most of which are sponsored by The Friends.
Thurs. 7 Mar. Blue Badge guided tour. History of Holland House and the families that lived there, led by Leila Sukiur. Last chance to see the conserved building before it closes for the opera season. Must book. £10 F 10.30am-noon
Wed. 13 Mar. Amphibian Walk, led by Matthew Rose. Free but must book. ES 6-8pm
Thurs. 4 April Spring Tree Walk, led by Trevor Bowyer. Free but must book. ES 5-7pm
Sat. 6 - Sun 14 April Friends Art exhibition in the Holland Park Orangery. Free to visit. F10.30am-6pm
Wed. 10 April. Friends’ AGM, 7.30pm. For members only. Update on plans for the Park and chance to ask questions and share your views. Please contact Jennie Kettlewell on 020 7243 0804/jennie.kettlewell@thefriendsofhollandpark.org to let her know you will attend.
Wed. 17 April Blue Badge guided tour. Statues, sculptures and Art in the park, led by Rowan Freeland. Must book. £10 F 10.30-noon
Wed. 24 April. Spring plant walk with Dr Mark Spencer. Free to attend, but must book. ES 6-8pm
Sun. 28 April Dawn chorus bird walk led by David Darrell-Lambert. Free to attend, but must book. ES 5-7am
Sun. 28 April Family Bird Song walk led by David Darrell-Lambert. Free to attend, but must book. ES 8-10am
Thurs. 9 May Herbal Medicine Walk led by Janine Gerhardt. Free to attend, but must book. ES 6-8pm
Wed. 15 May Bat Walk led by Philip Briggs. Free to attend, but must book ES 8.30-10.30pm
Wed. 15 May Tree identification walk in Holland Park, led by Dr Alan Harrington. Free to attend. No need to book. Meet by The Friends’ noticeboard in the Café Yard. F 11am-1pm
Sat. 18 May Blue Badge guided tour. History of the Gardens and Pleasure Grounds. Led by Leila Sukiur. Must book. £10. F 2.30-4pm
Sat. 8 June Tree Ecology Walk led by Greg Packman. Free to attend, but must book. ES time TBA
Tues. 11 June Blue Badge guided tour. History of the gardens. Led by Rowan Freeland. Must book. £10. F 2.30-4pm
Sat. 15 June Bird walk led by Bill Haines. Free to attend. No need to book.
Meet by The Friends’ noticeboard in the Café Yard. F 9-10.30am
Sat. 29 June Butterfly and Moth morning. Free to attend but must book. ES 10am-12noon
The Ecology Service (ES) events can be booked on Eventbrite.
The Friends’ (F) Blue Badge tours can be booked HERE on our website, or by contacting Jennie Kettlewell on 020 7243 0804 or jennie.kettlewell@thefriendsofhollandpark.org. Unless otherwise instructed when you book, meet by The Friends’ notice board in the Café Yard.
Holland Park Conservation Volunteers (adults) meet on the third Saturday of each month from 10.30am to 3.30 pm. Tasks focus on practical conservation that helps deliver the Ecology Service management plan and might include dead-hedging, scything, pond clearing and maintaining the paths in the Wildlife Enclosure. If you want to join, or find out more, please email Gerry Kelsey, idverde’s Training and Community Manager, at Gerald.Kelsey@idverde.co.uk.
[February 2024]
Summer party in the park
Wednesday, 3 July 2024, 6-8pm in the marquee, east of the Dutch Garden.
Save the date in your diary and we will give more information via email, on our park noticeboards and on our website, saying when and how you can book. The party is for members of The Friends only, though members are welcome to buy a ticket for a guest. It is the perfect place for a summer party, as the marquee offers a fine view of the seasonal planting in the formal garden and gives shelter from the sun, if we are lucky, and the rain if we are not.
Text & photo Jennie Kettlewell
[February 2024]