August 2026
Dear Cornwall Gardens Key Holder and/or Resident
The Drought
Watering
The hot dry spell which, at its height, felled this year’s performance of “Love’s Labour’s Lost” by Shakespeare in the Squares on 24 June 2026, continues unabated. Thames Water subsequently imposed a hosepipe ban with effect from 23 July. Most of the watering can now only be done by hand. Like most parks and gardens, the lawns of Cornwall Gardens have turned brown as priority is given to saving shrubs and other plants in the borders and beds.
Our gratitude extends not only to Andrew, our main gardener, in coping with the ban but also to those key holders who have taken the initiative by filling up watering cans from the tap next to the shed and helping save the most vulnerable plants such as Hydrangea. There are limited exceptions to the ban such as new planting within the previous three years, including new plants on the Mound, so you may see Andrew using the hosepipe or sprinkler system occasionally for this reason.
Trees and the Horse Chestnut in West Garden
When trees are under stress due to lack of water, they have a tendency to drop branches without warning, a phenomenon known as “Summer Drop”. We have suffered a few random branch falls from the older and much larger heritage trees. Specific falls are unpredictable and regarded as falling within a band of acceptable risk provided certain conditions are met. But, given that we know the Horse Chestnut in the West Garden is vulnerable to climate change, disease and infestation, that it suffered a major branch fall around four years ago and covers the middle of a garden (as opposed to the borders) where users are more likely to sit, it has been cordoned off as a precaution.
Irrigation and Sprinkler System Upgrade
Robert Parish, an irrigation expert, has visited the Gardens and provided a preliminary report as well as carry out some running repairs. One of the options is to replace the ageing and sub-optimal sprinkler-type irrigation system with trickle hoses for the beds and borders and rising sprinklers for the lawns, all controlled by an app from a mobile phone. Sub surface trickle hoses on a timer and with a pressure control valve are exempt from the hosepipe ban. Robert is preparing specifications and quote for our further consideration. We will have to assess the cost when we have the detail, but our predisposition is to make this investment in the gardens’ infrastructure.
Misconduct in the Gardens
It gives me, as Chairman, no pleasure to write what I write below, but the behaviour of a minority of offenders necessitates my sending this message to the broader community. The incidence of vandalism is especially shocking, and intolerable.
We have received complaints about football, which causes potential and actual damage to the lawns and plants and a nuisance to other garden users, being played in all three gardens. As a result, we have issued “yellow card” warnings to those involved which will escalate to “red card” warnings and fines or bans from the gardens if this continues. (This does not apply to toddlers playing with a soft ball under the supervision of an adult, which is a permitted exception to the rule against ball games in the gardens). We ask parents to ensure that children playing in the gardens understand clearly what they can and cannot do. Playing football is not allowed.
We have also received complaints about noisy private events involving child entertainers and amplified music as well as breaching the limits on permitted numbers. As you know, those booking events are required to specify the number of guests attending. The limits that exist are there to protect the community from excessive disturbance. It is important that commitments made in advance re the numbers of attendees are adhered to. In addition, the Garden Rules prohibit the use of any amplifier/sound enhancer, and our provisional policy going forward is to permit the presence of entertainers only on the basis that they have been told by those who hire them that their responsibility is to contain noise. If this requirement is breached, our provisional policy will be reversed and we will introduce a prohibition of entertainers. So we ask that those contemplating holding a children’s event to have this point clearly in mind.
Complaints have been received about unsupervised or poorly supervised children in the gardens who are disturbing other users and damaging the toys, mobiles, bunkers, plants and trees. In some cases, we have observed wilful vandalisation by unsupervised children.
The Bye-laws are here as a reminder of what is permitted and not permitted in the gardens.
The Kensington Forum Hotel Refurbishment and the Restoration of the Protected Garden of Ashburn Gardens, Cromwell Road London SW7
In the bulletin of June 2026, we reported on the campaign to restore the protected garden in Ashburn Gardens next to the Forum Hotel on Cromwell Road opposite Grenville Place. Details of the campaign may be found in stopthegardengrab.org
It will be of particular interest to those residents in the vicinity who would like to have access to a restored protected garden and to garden committees generally to help ensure that protected gardens are safeguarded from inappropriate development and their consequent degradation or destruction.
Since then, the main contractor carrying out the refurbishment of the Forum Hotel has gone into administration and we’ve not heard anything from the land owner since May 2025. The land owner’s application for a land swap and planning permission from RBKC to continue with their plans is awaiting a hearing date. The application is being contested unless the land owner is prepared to accept a compromise handing over part of the protected garden to resident management and control to “stop the grab”.
Other Local Issues and the Mansion Tax
Please find a letter from our local MP, Joe Powell here. It is a detailed letter and covers a wide range of issues of concern to residents as expressed at a recent public meeting.
The letter also refers to the proposed “Mansion Tax”, which was discussed at our AGM in January of this year, with Joe Powell MP speaking in person.
Please also find here correspondence in opposition to the Mansion Tax from Cllr Elizabeth Campbell, Leader of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
You will no doubt have your own opinions on the Mansion Tax which you are able to share directly in correspondence with Joe Powell MP and Cllr Campbell, and others as you see fit.
UP AND COMING EVENTS
Please find an updated Events Table here so you are aware of up and coming private and community events in the Gardens. Please use the booking form here if you wish to host your own private event in one of the Gardens.
The Freedom Pass Dining Club, Queen’s Gate Ward, Afternoon Tea on 12 August 2026 at 4 pm in Jakobs of Gloucester Road
Now in its second year, the first event of the new season (with thanks to financial support from RBKC’s City Living, Local Life fund and sponsorship by the CGRA) celebrated Bastille Day on 14 July 2026 with traditional and delicious French cuisine, an accomplished accordion player and, an opportunity to brush up on conversational French. As can be seen, a good time was had by all!
The next Freedom Pass event will take place on 12 August 2026 at 4 pm in Jakobs. Please find a flyer below with more information if would like to attend and are eligible for a Freedom Pass. If you have a personal carer, they are included too.
Choir of the Twenty-First Century (CC21) – “Come and Sing Day”, St Stephen’s Church, 3 October 2026 and “Dixit Dominus”, St Stephen’s Church on 21 November 2026
Following a successful concert from the CC21 at St George’s Hanover Square celebrating American Independence Day on 4 July 2026, their Secretary, Philippa John, is pleased to announce the CC21 choir will be back home in St Stephen’s on 3 October with a Come & Sing Day, and again on 21 November for a spectacular baroque and classical programme called Dixit Dominuswith settings of the text by Handel, Vivaldi and Marianna von Martines, a contemporary of Mozart in Venice. This will involve a string orchestra too. More details will be published and circulated in a flyer in due course.
The Come & Sing Day is an open invitation to everyone to join CC21 for a day of singing some of their repertoire. They then hope moving to Jakobs of Gloucester Road for an after gathering at teatime. Anyone wishing to join them should contact Alison St Denis on alisonstdenis@gmail.com
With best wishes
John Varley
Chairman
Cornwall Gardens Committee & Residents Association
07775 552050
Alan Lester
Secretary
Cornwall Gardens Committee & Residents Association
07816 324335
