2025
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.
Sat. 7 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
Wed. 18 June 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. 21 June Blue Badge guided tour. History of the gardens. Must book. £10 F. 10.30-noon
Tues. 28 June Butterfly and Moth morning. Free to attend but must book. ES. 10am-12noon
Sun. 6 July RBKC Summer Festival of activity, wellbeing and sports. Holland Park sports field. Free to attend. No need to book. RBKC. 10.30am-4pm
Tues. 10 July Wild plants of Holland Park walk with Dr Mark Spencer. Free to attend, but must book. ES. 6-8pm
Fri. 18 July Dragon fly walk. Free to attend, but must book. ES. 11.30am-1.30pm
Mon. 21 July Pimm’s in the Park party for members of the Friends. Tickets @£25 can be bought from The Friends’ website HERE, or by returning the order form enclosed with the Summer newsletter, or by contacting Margaret Rhodes (see contact details at the start of the newsletter). F. 6-8pm
Sun. 14 Sept Blue Badge guided tour. Statues, sculptures and Art in the park. Must book. £10. F. 10.30-12 noon
Tues. 16 Sept Herbal Medicine walk. Free to attend, but must book. ES. 5-7pm
Sat. 18 Oct Blue Badge guided tour. History of Holland House and the families that lived there. Must book. £10. F.10.30-12 noon
The Ecology Service (ES) events can be booked on Eventbrite.
The Friends’ (F) Blue Badge tours can be booked on our website or by contacting Isabelle Beaumont on 07549 138 461 or IBeaumontnew@gmail.com. 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.
[June 2025[
Summer party in the park
Monday, 21 July 2025, 6-8pm in the marquee, east of the Dutch Garden
We have already had some delightfully warm days so let’s hope we get a fine summer evening to celebrate our Friends’ party in the park. The date is Mon. 21 July, the time is 6pm until 8pm and the place is the marquee at the east end of the Dutch Garden. Access is from the Dutch Garden only. We are most grateful to James Clutton, CEO of Opera Holland Park, for loaning us their smart marquee for the event. That means we will be protected from hot sun or sharp showers and whatever the weather decides to do.
There will be refreshing Pimm’s fruit cup, tasty canapés and good company, all with the splendid view of the Dutch Garden summer planting.
This is the one event of our year that is only open to Friends and their immediate guests, but not the general public. Do come and celebrate with us! Tickets are £25 each, can be booked HERE on our website. The car park will be free after 6.30pm. Please do book your tickets early as we need to plan the catering.
Photo by Jennie Kettlewell
[June 2025]
News update. As at 8 May 2025
The clock in the Stable Yard tower
The Friends have received a number of emails saying that the Stable Yard clock had stopped, which it does every so often. Parks Management had been contacting specialists and getting quotes to do a repair when the park’s Small Works Team, aka Scott and Louis, said they might be able to help. They delved into the mechanism and got it working in no time. Then they let on that they had looked after it for a couple of decades and knew it pretty well.
Geranium maderensis in the Mediterranean Bed.
Some years ago, idverde’s plant nursery technician, John Becker, was heard to say that he would like to see a Geranium maderensis in the Mediterranean Bed. Well he’s achieved that and it’s no mean feat. It’s a tender plant from Madeira and might be expected to survive in the gentle climate of the glass house, but it’s quite another thing for it to survive outside. Survive it has and it has surpassed itself this spring with a gorgeous floral display. Well done John.
Bug hunt success
Some children taking part in bug hunting in the Wildlife Enclosure of the park one April morning found a Scarce Fungus Weevil. It is relatively uncommon in London, so a great record for the park! It’s a pretty odd looking creature and hard to spot because it does look a bit like a bird dropping. The children were excited and proud and so was the Ecology team.
The Dipelta’s departed
The Dipelta Enclosure was so named because within it there was a Dipelta yunnanensis shrub, which is a relatively uncommon plant. The species was introduced to the UK from China by George Forrester in 1920. Our Dipelta used to flower lustily in May and June, its flowers being creamy white with orange and purple markings. It was one of those plants which are not looked after as part of the formal gardens, nor was it under the care of our tree officers. So it declined over recent years and was strangled by nettles and other rampant growth around its base. We have lost too many of our uncommon plants because they are on no-one’s to do list. We would like to see another Dipelta yunnanensis bought and cared for.
Sun Trap wall
The eastern part of the Sun Trap Garden is still fenced off for safety reasons. Work is due shortly to strengthen the wall, possibly by terracing. At the same time, improvements will be carried out to the sloping path that runs down past the Sun Trap lawn to the park gate. This is needed to correct the water flow during heavy rainfall which doesn’t work well at present.
Outdoor gym
The outdoor gym has been completely refurbished. You can find this facility at the far south west of the sports field. This gym has a range of fitness equipment, based on what respondents to the consultation said they would like, all set in the leafy greenery of the park. It is proving popular, with one user even claiming to have given up his gym membership because the outdoor gym provided what he wants – and it’s free.
Text & photos Jennie Kettlewell
[June 2025]
Isabelle Beaumont – new trustee
We are delighted that Isabelle Beaumont has agreed to become a trustee of The Friends.
I first met Isabelle some years ago when we were both taking part in the RBKC Tuesday walk. She must have sensed my interest in her involvement with The Friends because she told me that her time was committed to her work projects but that would not always be the case. After many enjoyable conversations Isabelle was co-opted as a trustee on 4 March 2025 and was voted as a trustee by members at the AGM on 9 April.
Isabelle’s role with The Friends is ‘Projects’. We have been working together on the conservation of the Old Dairy for the past year, and her experience of the architecture of historic buildings has been of great benefit, as has her ability to manage complex projects. She was a chartered architect who ran her own business which specialised in a multi-disciplinary approach to work. This included projects for both private and public sector clients, one of which was English Heritage. Having ‘retired’ from her consultancy business, she had been looking for an organisation she could enjoy working with and which shared her values. It is good news for us that she felt The Friends fitted what she wanted.
She is leading the Old Dairy project for The Friends, working with RBKC’s head of parks projects, Sarah Brion. She has also taken on responsibility for managing promotion and bookings for our Blue Badge tours.
Welcome Isabelle and we look forward to working with you as a trustee.
Jennie Kettlewell
Photo from Isabelle Beaumont
(June 2025)
Spotted in the park
Water-damaged roof over paintings.
We are very disappointed to see that, after many years of asking, the Council has still not made the roof over our wonderful ‘marouflages’ paintings secure from water ingress. Repairing these canvases is costly and we do not want to risk further damp.
Scarred tree east of the sports field.
It is hard to know who or what had an argument with this tree. Generally, park visitors enjoy our glorious trees and are respectful towards them. Most of the tree damage in the park is caused by grey squirrels, but it would be one great big squirrel to cause this amount of damage. They strip the bark, and missing bark patches result in a tree being more susceptible to infection, which can result in tree loss.
Photos by Jennie Kettlewell
[June 2025]
New! Snakes and Ladders game
Ask a helpful gardener for directions and zip up a ladder. Get fascinated by the Kyoto Garden which makes you late, so you slide down a snake. The Friends have produced a classic Snakes & Ladders game with a twist. It’s based on Holland Park, with illustrations of familiar places, such as the Ilchester Gate, Sibirica Fountain and the Tonda sculpture.
The roll-up ‘board’ is wipeable and comes in a handy sleeve for storage. Inside the pack is a pouch containing four counters in different colours, a dice and instructions how to play. Suitable for two to four players.
Buy this for yourself or as a gift. It’s Available at a cost of £15, from the Holland Park Office in the Stable Yard or from The Friends’ popup desk in the Café Yard on 27 May and 24 June.
This is our very own game, but Snakes & Ladders originated in ancient India and was brought to the UK in the 1890s. The historic version had its roots in morality lessons, on which a player’s progression up the board represented a life journey complicated by virtues (ladders) and vices (snakes). But you can play this one just for fun!
Text & photo by Jennie Kettlewell
[June 2025]
New discount offers for The Friends!
Baguette Deli
Located at 1A Hollywood Road in the heart of Chelsea, The Baguette Deli brings authentic French flavours to one of London’s most stylish neighbourhoods. From freshly baked baguettes and gourmet sandwiches to delicate pastries and rich coffee, they offer a true taste of France. Whether you're stopping by for a quick bite or a leisurely meal, the menu will have something to offer. The Café/Deli was the idea of Milan Akani, whose aim is to provide great quality food, with products from France at a great price. Do visit this deli and enjoy its French cuisine. They also cater for events. www.the-baguette-deli.co.uk. Tel: 07932 605 178.
Offer: 15% discount on all purchases from the menu, on presentation of your membership discount card.
Photo by Baguette Deli
Kensington Glam
New owners have taken over what used to be Threads at 256 Kensington High Street. Kensington Glam offers a wide range of beauty services, including facials, massages, nail care, brow and eye treatments, waxing and make up for special events. Please note that their offer is for hair colour treatments only. To book an appointment ring 020 8278 5705. www.kensingtonglam.co.uk
Offer:
15% discount on all hair colour treatments, on presentation of your membership discount card.
[June 2025]
New head gardener
We welcome Martin Moore as Holland Park’s head gardener. He started his horticultural career as an apprentice with Royal Parks at Regent’s Park and stayed there for many years because he loved it. Over that time, he gained his qualifications, but learned as much from practical experience where he enjoyed experimenting with different approaches and designs.
On occasions his employers (for part of the time his employer was idverde) loaned him to other sites where his experience could help solve problems. One of those visits just happened to be to Holland Park and he told me he thought at the time ‘This is a nice place. I wouldn’t mind being head gardener here one day’. But he wasn’t looking to move and it was only recently, when he noticed the Holland Park head gardener’s role was vacant, that he decided this was what he wanted to do.
It is encouraging that Martin wants to take his time to get to know the park, its history, its quirks and of course to get to know his team before coming up with ideas. He does look forward to designing planting schemes, though the summer bedding plants for the formal gardens were chosen some time ago, and his turn won’t come until winter bedding. He is interested to know the horticultural history of each of the areas so he can be true to the concept while adding his own ideas. We hope he will start with the Mediterranean Bed which is long overdue for completion.
He has discovered a few large plants languishing in the Nursery Yard and he feels they should be liberated and planted out in the park for all to see. We look forward to seeing the Camellia sinensis (tea bush) back in the Camellia Bed where it was planted some years ago, after The Friends bought the shrub from the Tregothnan tea estate in Cornwall.
He is quite clearly enthusiastic about plants and he is just the person to ensure Holland Park remains a very special place.
Text & photo by Jennie Kettlewell
[June 2025]
New trees. At last!
After a very long time planning, at last trees are being planted in Holland Park.
We agree with the approach taken and that is to start with identifying spaces where there is appropriate room for a tree. Only when there is a specific space in mind do we start to think about what tree might thrive there. The Friends have long had a ‘wish list’ of trees, so some species get chosen from that, but not all the trees we would like to have are available to buy.
Buying uncommon trees is very frustrating. Being uncommon, not many people buy them and, because there is little demand, nurseries don’t grow them. So those who do want to buy them, can’t and are caught in a vicious circle. Monica Castelino, RBKC Parks Manager, has developed a spreadsheet system of tree spaces, trees we want for those spaces, trees available to buy and trees not yet available but we will continue searching for.
(Jennie Kettlewell)
(Ornamental Trees)
The good news is that four trees have been planted so far. Two Exochorda serratifolia ‘Snow White’ have been planted in the grass margin of the D Garden in place of two failed silver birches. This small tree is free-flowering with pure white petals.
A Chitalpa tashkentensis ‘Summer Bells’ has been planted just west of the Tots’ Playground in place of a failed mulberry. We will be able to enjoy its pale pink flowers from summer to autumn. And a Juglens nigra (Black Walnut0 has been planted in place of the huge Bolle’s poplar just inside the Ilchester Gate.
(Jennie Kettlewell)
Not such good news is that tree pests and diseases continue to be rampant throughout the UK, and Holland Park is not immune. The large lime next to the Mimosa at the back of The Belvedere Restaurant had a fatal fungal growth and has just been felled. The remaining tree in the grass margin to the west of the Kyoto Garden is marked for felling. A beautiful beech by the outdoor gym also had a fungal growth and is no more. But then, over the long life of the Holland House grounds, trees have come and gone. When we lose trees, that does provide an opportunity for planting new, and possibly less usual species from our wish list. The outlook is now promising and we hope the next tree to be planted will be an Aralia elata (Japanese Angelica tree) in place of the miserable Cork Oak which was never the right tree for the Daffodil Lawn.
Jennie Kettlewell
[June 2025]
News Update as at 3 February 2025
Head Gardener
parks on Channel 5
Owen Rogers has been Holland Park’s head gardener for the past six years. We are sad to tell you that he left idverde at the end of January to take up a new role. The search is on to find a new head gardener with the wide range of knowledge and skills that Owen demonstrated. Horticultural knowledge is of course important, but so is leading and motivating a team and all the financial and administrative skills the role entails. He had a flair for design, as can be seen in the Iris Garden and the floral displays in the Dutch Garden.
Meanwhile, idverde has an excellent team in Holland Park to keep the gardens up to scratch until a new head gardener arrives. We wish Owen well and thank him for all the imagination and hard work he has brought to the job.
Photo: © Channel 5
Teaching circles
The Ecology Service has commissioned building of teaching circles in the West Woodland and Wildlife Enclosures. They are now completed, are truly a work of art and look beautiful. The work was carried out by Dominic Edge-Bovair of The Woven Fence Ltd, and the hazel came from a coppice that he is restoring in Hayley Wood, Cambridgeshire. idverde’s Gerry Kelsey and his team of volunteers have added bark chip and brought in seating logs and those school children who have already visited are absolutely delighted with their ‘outdoor classroom’. The Friends have agreed to fund the £7,000 cost of the three teaching circles and are pleased to note that their predicted life will be at least 10 years.
Photo: RBKC Ecology Service.
Park closures
Regular visitors to the park will have noticed that parts of the park have been closed on several occasions recently. This is for safety during storms and we seem to have had a few of those. The policy is to close the north of the park, the Adventure Playground and the Outdoor Gym when there is a Yellow Weather Warning, to avoid any danger from falling branches. At these times, access to the park is through the gates in the southern part of the park. Should there be an Amber Weather Warning, the whole park would have to close. RBKC Parks Management are aware of the inconvenience closures cause, but safety is a priority.
Wildlife monitoring
The Holland Park butterfly transect recorded a 55% reduction in population numbers in 2024, compared to 2023, but the same eight species were represented. This decline was reflected nationally, leading Butterfly Conservation to decare a Butterfly Emergency. This is thought to be due to a combination of habitat loss and poor weather. A borough-wide bat survey will be commissioned in 2025, as there has not been one since 2010.
Photo: Andrew Wood
Second award for Allies and Morrison
Conservation architects, Allies and Morrison, won a second award for their excellent work on Holland House. This was a commendation in the Conservation category at the New London Awards, held in November 2024. Commendations were not awarded in every category, but only where they were considered to be merited. Conservation attracted many entries and was highly competitive, so the award is all the more pleasing.
[February 2025]
New discount offers for The Friends!
The Builders Arms
This friendly local pub, dating back to the 1800s, is one of the most established watering holes in the area and a cornerstone of the neighbourhood’s history. The building has been lovingly restored, retaining many of its original Georgian features. The main room is wood-paneled with an open fire in winter, and there is a pretty flowered terrace as well as a private function room. The menu offers delightful snacks and sharers, succulent chicken, meat-free treats, and classic pub dishes - something for everyone.
Offer:
10% discount on food and drink, with a maximum group of 6.
Not valid on drink without food.
1 Kensington Court Place, London W8 5BJ
www.thebuildersarmskensington.co.uk t. 0207 937 6213.
Photo: The Builders Arms from their website.
[February 2025]
Lenae jewellery
LENAE was the vision of Lena Wro, an internationally acclaimed model. Her inspiration was the serene beauty of the sea and rocks in Kefalonia, Greece, which sparked her passion for creating jewellery that celebrates nature.
The demi-fine jewellery includes earrings, necklaces and bracelets with freshwater pearls and mother-of-pearl set in sterling silver and gold vermeil. Why not have a look at the beautifully crafted collections at www.lenae.online.
Offer:
15% discount on purchases of jewellery via the Lenae website.
All purchases online with proof of membership of The Friends by sending a photo of your membership card.
[April 2025]
Those we miss
Barrie Maclaurin
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Japan round the Kyoto Garden in 2012
Barrie joined RBKC as Parks Manager in 2004 and his role doubled overnight when RBKC merged services with Hammersmith and Fulham. He retired in March 2014, and moved to Wales with his partner, Jeff. He is remembered for many good reasons, not least his sense of humour and clever way of getting round bureaucracy. The sculpture Tonda was easily approved as ‘a replacement garden ornament’ rather than an art installation!
A passionate interest in Japanese gardens worked to our advantage. Barrie visited some of the great gardens of Japan and learned from master gardener Yasuo Kitayama. This resulted in great care and attention to accuracy in our own Kyoto Garden when it was refurbished in 2011. When the Emperor and Empress of Japan visited in 2012, it was Barrie who showed them round the Kyoto and Fukushima Gardens.
When he retired, he joined The Friends as a member and kept in close touch, making his final visit to Holland Park with Jeff in March 2024. I last saw them in October 2024 in their Cardiff home, a happy occasion although Barrie was evidently not well. Sadly, he died on 2 December.
It is hard to sum up the very great contribution Barrie made to Holland Park. In a tribute to Barrie’s skill and diplomacy, he was voted the most Inspirational Leader of the Year in the 2013 RBKC staff awards. And, in 2017, he received the prestigious Japanese Sato Award, which is presented to individuals and organisations for outstanding achievement in fostering exchange between Japan and other countries on the subject of parks and green spaces.
We miss Barrie’s friendship and helpful advice on Japanese gardens, though that has been given from a distance for over 10 years.
Jennie Kettlewell
Mary Spain
cats she loved
We regret to report the death of Mary Spain on 17 November 2024. Mary joined The Friends in the early 1980s, but I first became fully aware of her in 1996. She then offered to join the team of newsletter deliverers which I was forming. Unlike others, she would not come to my flat to collect newsletters. Instead she said that, if I would bring them to her, she would stuff the envelopes and deliver and give me tea. She did this for every newsletter except two from then to Covid. Once was when she cracked her skull (leaving her with permanent tinnitus), and once was to recover from a breast cancer operation.
Mary was involved with many other local organisations and was willing to share news about The Friends with them. Whenever the Campden Hill Society produced a newsletter she asked me what she should say about the Friends’ doings. She also gleaned news about us from her membership over some years on the Holland Park Liaison Committee. She was a real help in spreading the word about The Friends.
During Covid our regular meetings had to stop, but Mary went on delivering newsletters brought to her door, and this continued when Margaret Rhodes took over managing the deliverers. When in June of last year, Mary announced her retirement, it must have been part of her final settlement of her affairs. She worked for the Friends for 28 years, one of the longest of any. Rest in peace, a good and faithful servant.
Rhoddy Wood
[February 2025]
Summer party in the park
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Monday, 21 July 2025, 6-8pm in the marquee east of the Dutch Garden
Save the date in your diary and we will give more information in our summer newsletter, 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.
[February 2025]
Guided walks in Holland Park
received RBKC awards for their
voluntary work.
Every Thursday we meet at 10.30 am in the Holland Park Café and embark on a short, but not strenuous walk around the park. The walk, which embraces the woodlands, flower walks and Kyoto Garden, is led by two volunteers and lasts around 45 minutes. Afterwards we have tea and coffee and wide-ranging conversation in the café which has been generous in accommodating us.
It is a group of around 15 or so, generally over 60s, all abilities and all friendly. Everyone is welcome and, barring drinks, participation is free and above all enjoyable and informative, as we observe the park's changing seasons in the course of each year.
At 3pm every Thursday there is a group meeting to do a Nordic walk around the park. This is instructor-led and Nordic walking poles are provided. Nordic walking is beneficial for heart, lungs and posture, without being too exhausting. In fact you should emerge refreshed and energised. It is excellent exercise for all ages and especially for over 60s, as it improves general fitness, and it has also proved beneficial as rehabilitation.
Simon Grantham, Volunteer walk leader.
[February2025]
Membership Discount Cards and Subscriptions 2025
Payment for 2025. If the order form included within your Spring newsletter is green, it means that on 15 March 2025 your membership discount card will expire, and you will no longer be able to enjoy the discounts that go with it. To enjoy this benefit, please renew your membership now. All subscriptions were due on 1 January, except for those who joined after 1 September 2024.
There are several ways to renew your membership. You can send a cheque, payable to The Friends of Holland Park, to Margaret Rhodes, 25 Princedale Road, London W11 4NW. You can also pay online HERE.
Standing order for 2026 onwards. You need to pay the 2025 membership subscription now, but it helps us if you complete a bank Standing Order form, as it means your membership payment will be paid by your bank each year, and you will not have to remember to do it. You cannot complete a Standing Order form on our website, but you can use the one on the back of the green order form with this newsletter.
Donations. Some members choose to add a donation, which is appreciated. If you pay through our website, you can donate by clicking on a very obvious yellow button on the home page.
Membership rates. Membership is £12 a year, or £9 for the over 65s. Joint subscriptions, for two people at the same address, cost £20, or £15 where both are over 65.
Our records are not infallible, so do contact Graham Franklin on 07802 761 548 or ggfranklin3@aol.com if you have a query.
However you pay, we are most grateful for your support, as the more members we have the more influence we can bring to bear in achieving our priorities for this wonderful park.
By Rhoddy Wood
[February 2025]
Dates for your Diary – events in Holland Park
The events listed below are either organised by The Friends (F), or organised by the Ecology Service (ES), most of which are sponsored by The Friends.
Sat. 7 June. Bird identification walk in Holland Park, led by expert ornithologist Bill Haines. Free to attend. No need to book. No dogs please. Meet by the Friends’ noticeboard in the Holland Park Café Yard. F 9am - 10.30am.
Wed. 18 June. 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. 21 June. Blue Badge guided tour. History of the gardens. Must book. £10. F 10.30-noon.
Sat. 28 June. Butterfly and Moth morning. Free to attend but must book. ES 10am-12noon.
Sun. 14 September. Blue Badge guided tour. 10.30-12.00pm. Sculptures and Decorative Arts. Must book. £10. F.
Sat. 18 October. Blue Badge guided tour. 10.30-12.00pm. History of the Holland House. Must book. £10. F.
The Ecology Service (ES) events can be booked on Eventbrite.
The Friends’ (F) Blue Badge tours can be booked on our website HERE, or by contacting Isabelle Beaumont on 07549 138 461, or IBeaumontnew@gmail.com. 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.
[May 2025]