Our commitment to the local community
Chiswick House & Gardens Trust was set up to care for the Grade-I listed 18th-century House and 65-acre Gardens. As a Trust, we want the whole community to benefit from this special place. The Trust is committed to making a positive social impact and keeping our gardens free for everyone to enjoy every day. The Trust is already responding to some of the challenges faced by local people, such as loneliness, unemployment and lack of access to nature. Last year, the Trust worked with 52 community groups to support nature-based learning and wellbeing for over 2,000 local people, thanks to a grant from the Linbury Trust. But demand for our thriving community and learning programmes now exceeds what can be currently offered.
What are we planning?
After consultation with our community groups and other key stakeholders, we are taking bold steps to invest in ambitious projects to support local people and creative enterprise in the Borough. We’re planning to repurpose unused and underused spaces to create new sustainable and energy-efficient zones to include:
- A multi-purpose Learning Hub and Fruit Garden for our community and schools activities
- New facilities for our volunteers
- A Creative Campus for local artists, makers and artisans Building on our 300-year history of built and natural creative design
These developments will secure Chiswick House & Gardens as a source of inspiration and delight for all, for generations to come.
When will it happen?
Subject to planning permission and securing funding, the Chiswick House & Gardens Trust aims to begin this work in 2024.
Share your thoughts
If you have any questions or comments about the project, please contact us at info@chgt.org.uk.
How can I stay informed?
Sign up for our monthly newsletter to keep track of progress.
About the Learning Hub, Fruit Garden and Volunteer Facilities
Our current learning room has a maximum capacity of 15, with very basic facilities, severely limiting its use. A new multi-purpose Learning Hub (330m2 ) will house our schools programme, adult learning classes, school holiday clubs and family activities.
A currently unused and overgrown late 17th-century productive garden will be developed into a wonderful Fruit Garden to provide a new outdoor space for our local groups to use in all seasons for horticulture-themed activities.
A disused greenhouse will be restored to offer all-year growing, learning and volunteering activities and a new Volunteer Base will be created for our 190 volunteers, who play a key part in keeping the House and Garden open and looking beautiful for everyone to enjoy. The Kitchen Garden connects these new spaces. It is the beating heart of Chiswick House & Gardens, offering valuable access to a thriving natural environment for both our community and schools groups and visitors. Buildings and replanting will respect our historical heritage whilst providing modern facilities with efficiency and sustainability in mind.
What difference will these changes make?
With these developments we will be able to:
- Increase the capacity of our community and schools programmes by 600%.
- Offer co-developed community programmes, providing hands-on nature-based learning about biodiversity, food production and climate change, benefitting over 8,000 local adults and children each year.
- Improve social interaction and wellbeing, especially for members of the local community who need it most, by increasing the range of activities offered.
- Make our community spaces inviting, flexible, safe, secure and accessible for people with learning and physical disabilities.
- Provide access to cooking facilities for schools and groups to experience the joy of preparing nutritious meals straight from the Kitchen Garden.
- Guarantee year-round use by providing shelter, lockable storage and self-led access.
About the Creative Campus
We plan to adapt unused historic sheds and stables behind the Conservatory to create 700m2 of affordable workspaces for up to 100 artists and artisans. The Creative Campus will become a hub for local artists, photographers, writers, film makers, interior and landscape designers, craft workers, artisanal food and beverage makers, allowing a new creative community to be forged right here in Chiswick. The studios will be co-designed with professional experienced operators to ensure creative workers’ needs are factored into the designs, such as:
- Communal spaces
- Outdoor spill-out areas
- Out of hours access
Why is it needed?
There are extensive waiting lists for creative studios and workplaces throughout West London. In addition to providing affordable studios and sustaining jobs and enterprise for up to 100 artists and makers, the Creative Campus will improve the cultural and design identity of the local area. What’s more, all tenant artists and makers will be invited to contribute to our creative events and community programme, host open studio days and will have the opportunity to sell their work in the Chiswick House Shop.
Join our creative community
We’re keen to hear from local creatives interested in joining our Creative Campus community. If you are a local creative and interested in taking a workspace, please get in touch at info@chgt.org.uk