As someone who grew up in Ealing, a part of London where green spaces like Hanwell Zoo, Perivale Park, and Gunnersbury Park are central to community life, I have seen firsthand how vital it is to keep our natural spaces alive and thriving. These local parks are more than just patches of green; they’re living, breathing ecosystems and community hubs, echoing the Victorian vision of parks as essential social spaces for all.

Barnes Common is no different. It is one of London’s largest and most ecologically diverse urban commons, a vital green space where nature, heritage, and community thrive. Managed by the charity Barnes Common Limited, they seek to protect and enhance this unique landscape for wildlife and for people, offering a place to learn, explore, and connect with the natural world. Being of one of the most cherished landscapes, arguably throughout all of London, it bursting with an endless array of a flora, including a patch that has one of the rarest plants, which isn’t known from anywhere else in London, known as the 'Burnet rose', which has been known from the Common for over 300 years. Couple with that the various schemes, such as the Community Gardeners program and the Vine Road Recreation Ground project, and you have a place where nature, heritage, and community come together. However, much like every other successful green space in this country, it needs care, protection, and thoughtful investment to continue fulfilling that role in an increasingly urbanised and disconnected world. As our society drifts further from the social roots of parks, this is a chance to reawaken that spirit of communal connection beyond Barnes, as well as appreciation for the wild right on our doorstep.

With Richmond Park attracting visitors from across London and beyond, there has never been a better moment to turn local attention to Barnes Common. We have a unique opportunity to nurture this green space so it can inspire future generations, support biodiversity, and serve as a model for other communities. By raising funds now, we aim to enhance our conservation efforts, expand our educational outreach, and create inclusive, vibrant public spaces that echo the legacy of parks built in the 19th century, but with a clear vision for the 21st!