Ravenscourt Park pond in Hammersmith has been restored thanks to support from residents and H&F Green Investment funding.
Once run down after its liner was damaged, the site now has a larger pond, a second linked pond, a bridge, a safer dipping platform, flatter paths, new planting and refurbished gates. The aim is to create a better habitat for wildlife while making the garden easier to use for visitors, including those with pushchairs and wheelchairs.
Nature is already returning, frogs and tadpoles have moved back, and new hedges are providing shelter for a fox family. Project leaders say the restoration will help bring back a healthy balance of wildlife, including newts, toads and dragonflies, once the pond and surrounding plants are fully established. Residents helped shape the redesign through a public consultation, with nearly 300 people, including local primary school pupils, sharing ideas for a cleaner, richer and more welcoming space.
The improvements were built largely from existing or recycled materials, with native species such as water lilies, purple loosestrife, water mint and marsh marigold added around the water. “Dead” hedges were also installed to create natural barriers and habitats for insects and small creatures. Although the garden remains closed while the ground recovers, it is expected to reopen later in the year.
The development also promotes H&F Green Investment, which offers a fixed 4 per cent annual return over five years, with local investment matched by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
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