Japanese Garden Gets New "Torii" Gateway

New Gateway for Japanese Garden at Hammersmith Park

The Japanese Garden at Hammersmith Park has been given a new gateway, or "Torii", thanks to a generous donation by former Chair of the Friends of The Japanese Garden at Hammersmith Park, John Gordon-Smith. 

The Japanese Garden at Hammersmith Park dates from 1910, and is the chief legacy of the Japanese-British Exhibition that took place in White City.

New Tennis Courts For Hammersmith Park

Newly resurfaced tennis courts at Hammersmith Park

Thanks to our local council, the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, for the newly resurfaced tennis courts at Hammersmith Park.

The old tennis courts had deteriorated badly and were prone to flooding, collecting mud and debris in wet weather. 

Outdoor Gym for Hammersmith Park - Have Your Say

The London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham is consulting with local residents on whether to build an outdoor gym in Hammersmith Park and, if so what sort of equipment to install.

The location of the outdoor gym would be in a small triangle of grass located at the eastern end of the park, near the exit to TV Centre. 

You can have your say by emailing parks.projects@lbhf.gov.uk. 

The deadline for comments is today, Friday 15th September 2023.

Cherry Blossom in Hammersmith Park

This past week Hammersmith Park has been a riot of cherry blossom - on a sunny day visitors to our local park can sit on a bench beneath a cherry tree and watch the pink petals gently float away on the breeze.

The planting of cherry trees alongside the Japanese lanterns and the Japanese Garden means that at this time of year you can almost imagine yourself to be in Japan. 

WELL - West London Lido Campaign Launched

WELL - West London Lido Campaign

Shepherd's Bush film-maker Eddie Morgan has launched a new website to promote his campaign for a new Lido in Shepherd's - The West London Lido - or "WELL".  

Lidos are - so says the Guardian - experiencing a revival in the UK, so why can't we have one in Shepherd's Bush? 

New Pond Skimmer for Japanese Garden

Pond Skimmer in Japanese Garden

Congratulations to our local council, the LBHF Parks Dept, and the Friends of the Japanese Garden for (at last) successfully installing a pond skimmer in the Japanese Garden at Hammersmith Park. 

The pond skimmer removes floating debris off the surface of the pond - especially the duckweed which, if left unchecked, completely coats the surface of the pond. 

For many years, John Gordon-Smith and other volunteers at the Friends of the Japanese Garden in Hammersmith Park have been lobbying our Council to install a skimmer to clean up the duck weed in the Japanese Garden.  

Community Science Day at the "Tiny Forest" 29 Sept

Community Science Day at H&F Tiny Forest 29 Sept

On Wednesday 29th September Earthwatch and our local council LBHF are hosting a "Community Science Day" event at the "Tiny Forest" in Hammersmith Park.  Each session includes the collection of data to monitor how the trees are doing and what creatures are starting to cal the forest home. You can sign up here.

The event is sponsored by local business Fever Tree, who will also be running the early sessions, and the afternoon is open to our local community.

Hammersmith Park Japanese Garden September Newsletter

Hammersmith Park

The Japanese Garden in Hammersmith is one of the many pleasures of our neighbourhood. 

The Garden gets a regular cleanup by local volunteers; Japanese Garden Chair John Gordon-Smith also writes a monthly newsletter about the Garden. To see the latest news, see John's newsletter below. 

"Tiny Forest" Planted in Hammersmith Park

"Tiny Forest" in Hammersmith Park

According to recent news reports, Hammersmith Park is set to house London’s first "Tiny Forest", planted in the old Bowling Green in the Park.  

Our Council, LBHF, posted a news story about the forest back in March.

But where is this forest? And how do you get there? Turns out, it isn't that easy to find, and there isn't any legitimate public access.

Hammersmith Park Tennis Lockdown

Thou Shalt Not Play Tennis

Lockdown is a confusing time in Shepherd's Bush.  Exercise is permitted, but tennis appears to be banned. At least, it must be, because our council has padlocked the gate to the tennis courts in Hammersmith Park. 

There is no sign of course, and no explanation as to why – but the answer to everything these days is Covid. 

An enterprising local has found their own solution – someone has cut a hole in the fence, to make a handy entrance to the tennis courts.  

This past Sunday all three tennis courts were full, even the one that doesn’t have a net – our Council still haven’t found the money (we've been waiting for many years) to replace it.  

Hammersmith Park Ranks No 9 in London "Tranquility Index"

Japanese Garden, Hammersmith Park

According to a recent article in the Evening Standard, Hammersmith Park ranks No9 in a new "tranquillity index" of quite spots in London.

A new start-up has spent the last three years figuring out the most peaceful places to get a break from noise and pollution in London.

They describe hidden spaces in the city which offer a welcome respite from the rat race, and have put together a “tranquillity index” for Londoners. 

What Happened to Our New Park?

Proposed public park. 

Back in 2016 we reported on a new park which was promised for Shepherd's Bush.

It was all part of the new Westfield development, and that of St James to the north - on the old M&S warehouse site east of Wood Lane.

The park was the price which was exacted by our former Conservative Council from the developers, in return for planning permission to redevelop the area.

It was never intended to be a big park; rather it would be a small green space tucked under the redeveloped Hammersmith and City tube line, running through the Westfield redevelopment.

The photo above shows what it was supposed to look like.  So, where is it? And what happened to it?

Friends of Hammersmith Park Meets Tuesday Sept 10

Hammersmith Park

The inaugural meeting of the Friends of Hammersmith Park is meeting on Tuesday September 10th.

Not to be confused with the Friends of the Japanese Garden at Hammersmith Park, this new organisation has a broad brief to advocate on behalf of local residents and mediate with our Council on new proposals for Hammersmith Park.

The meeting takes place at 6.30pm at Wood Lane Community Centre, 78 White City Close London W12 7DZ. All are welcome.

New Fountain Proposed for Hammersmith Park

Proposed Design

Our local Council have proposed a new water fountain for Hammersmith Park. You can see a draft of the proposed design on the left.

The idea is to have a new water fountain so that visitors to the park can get a drink of water on a hot day.

So far, local opinion is (as is frequently the case) rather divided. A number of locals are against it, suggesting that it adds to the clutter of our neighbourhood and, anyway, why spend scarce public money on an expensive new fountain when anyone who needs a drink can always pop into Play Football and get a glass of water?

Personally, I think it's a good idea, on balance.

New Playground in Sight at Hammersmith Park

The children's playground at Hammersmith Park has been closed and fenced off, suggesting action at last after the children's climbing frames were removed in February and March of last year.

Despite promises that replacement would take "a few months", a year has passed and local parents are still waiting.

The poster apologising for the closure suggests that the works will be completed "by the end of March 2019".

Past experience suggests that we can take that estimate with a pinch of salt, but at least we can be reasonably confident that the new playground should be in place before the summer.  Hopefully.

Your Chance to Vote on Hammersmith Park Playground

Hammersmith Park Playground is getting a makeover, and our Council has decided to let the public decide which design should win. 

Now is your chance to vote. Follow this this link to the official LBHF site, and have your say.

There are three designs to choose from, which you can see at the official site and also below.

Hammersmith Park Goes Japanese

Stone Lanterns lining the northern entrance to Hammersmith Park

The Japanese Garden at Hammersmith Park has been significantly expanded, following works carried out by the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, in association with the Friends of the Japanese Garden. A number of Japanese stone lanterns now line the Northern entrance to the park, and an ornamental gate has been installed. The project was financed by Japanese businesses and by the Japanese Embassy.

Friends of Hammersmith Park Meets 18th Sept

Hammersmith Park

Tuesday 18th September is the quarterly meeting of the Friends of Hammersmith Park.

Hammersmith Park (note: not in Hammersmith) is a small scrap of green space in a very urban part of our Borough, and could use a bit of help and support.

Japanese Party Re-Scheduled for Friday 3 & Sat 4 August

The opening celebrations for Hammersmith Park's new expanded Japanese Garden has been re-scheduled to take place over two days,  Friday 3rd August and Saturday 4th August.

The official Opening Ceremony will be held on friday at 4.30pm, with a reception at 5pm,

The Japanese Party, with lots of activities for families and children, is to take place on Saturday from 12.30pm until 6pm.

Visitors will have the chance to make origami, do a calligraphy workshop, listen to Japanese music, or try some noodle soup.

The event is being held to celebrate recent improvement works: the installation of new Japanese-style gates and rows of stone lanterns in the Japanese Garden.

LBHF Demolishes Climbing Frames in Hammersmith Park

Climbing Frame - demolished in March

Local parents who take their children to play in Hammersmith Park will be aware that both of the toddler climbing frames were removed in February and March of this year.

Four months later our children have nowhere to play, and our Council still have no concrete plans on what to put in their place. 

LBHF say that the climbing frames were dangerous, and had to be removed immediately.