Clare's Chatterbox: Chiswick House and Gardens

A really good visit to Chiswick House and Garden today, an opportunity to walk around the park and then a meeting with Fiona Crumley, head gardener, who was completely enthusiastic about the park and garden and how they (Chiswick House and Gardens Trust) have taken it from an undesirable public park full of dog poo and graffitti to an area that can be enjoyed by everyone - still a lot of dogs but they have very expensive poo bins for the 220,000 dog poo bags a year to go in!

They have spent £12.1m on restoring and repairing the park and garden, £6.7m was from Heritage Lottery Funding and the remaining was matched funding. Because of the good work a local lady gave a considerable amount for planting the Italian garden.

There is a mix of 18th and 19th century design, but these have been brought together well - a good example of how different historical layers can work together.

As the environment has improved so has the behaviour, vandalism is virtually non existent now (full time warden helps this).

Fiona has one full time gardener who started 3 days ago, she makes the whole project work with volunteers, 30 of them for the garden.

We also went into the house and saw the Rybrack paintings of how the garden was and how helpful they have been as a historical resource.

Fiona is a fantastic example of how the right attitude can make a project a success and not be put off by the many obstacles that present themselves, but work through, around or with them. A very inspiring visit.