The Lesley Crowcroft Walled Garden
On Friday 31st May, the Mayor of Hillingdon, Cllr Colleen Sullivan, joined the family and friends of the late Lesley Crowcroft for the official renaming of the Walled Garden. Guests enjoyed afternoon tea in the Stables after the unveiling, at which the Mayor read the following dedication.
TRIBUTE TO LESLEY CROWCROFT
Lesley, a founding member and long-time Chairman of the Friends of Eastcote House Gardens, passed away on 30th October 2023 after a long illness. From the Friends’ earliest days 15 years ago, Lesley led by example and tirelessly promoted the Gardens at every opportunity. She oversaw the initial brief to renovate the planted areas of what was then a run down and overgrown walled garden.
Between 2010 and 2011, Lesley led the introduction of our main annual events – Summer Picnic, Heritage Day and Tree-Dressing. In 2012 she began a long and arduous application process to fund a complete refurbishment of the park and buildings. Her tireless efforts resulted in the award of £1.8million, which created all the facilities we enjoy today.
Lesley took responsibility for our annual London in Bloom applications, for which we have received the top awards in all classes of entry every year. She led the planning and creation of new flower beds, nature walks and tree trails. She introduced a range of leaflets and information sheets aimed at families, schools and children to encourage all members of the local community to enjoy and appreciate the Gardens.
Perhaps her crowning glory was in 2016 with the award to the Friends of The Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award for Voluntary Service, the highest possible award for volunteer groups.
Today, regular visitors to the Gardens include health walkers, local schools, playgroups, community organisations, Beavers and Scout groups. The Friends currently number over 40 active gardeners, with more than 70 volunteers helping at last year’s Summer Fete and Picnic. It is also visited by various groups seeking advice on how to establish their own community gardens – and so Lesley’s vision continues to spread.
People from near and far visit the Gardens and frequently comment on how lucky we are to have such a beautiful park in our community. We are all so lucky to have had such a powerful, determined and visionary leader to drive the projects forward and to create the magnificent Gardens that we enjoy today.
After Lesley’s passing, we felt very strongly that it was important for visitors to the Gardens – both now and in the years to come – to realise how influential she had been in rescuing these Gardens for the community. She was determined, and worked tirelessly to ensure that the Gardens would be preserved for all to enjoy.
As the Walled Garden was her first challenge, it seemed fitting that this should be renamed in her honour. And so Lesley’s family, friends and colleagues have come together today to celebrate her success and honour her memory by naming this beautiful area “The Lesley Crowcroft Walled Garden”.
Heritage Day - 15th September 2024
Our Heritage Day took place on Saturday 15th September. The report and photographs of the day can been seen by going to our 'Events - 2024' link at the top of the page. Alternatively please click here to be taken directly to the page.
Events at Eastcote House Gardens for 2024
All the events planned for 2024 can be see in our Diary Dates section, please click here to be taken to our Diary page. However, all dates and times are provisional – please check this website for more details nearer the event.
Country Life
We know that people love our magnificent wisteria arch when it is in full bloom. Imagine our delight when we discovered that Country Life magazine chose a photo of our wisteria for the cover of the issue dated 20th March 2024!
Cover – www.countrylife.co.uk
Photograph – Lois GoBe – lois@tulipbeads.co.uk
Defibrillator
The Friends of Eastcote House Gardens are pleased to announce that there is now a defibrillator on the outside wall of the Gardens Café.
- A defibrillator is a device that gives a high-energy shock to the heart of someone who is in cardiac arrest. It helps get the heart beating again. Anyone can use a defibrillator – you do not need training. Once you turn it on, it gives clear, step by step voice instructions.
- The defibrillator was paid for with funds raised at our annual events and plant and book sales in a match-funded venture with the Department of Health and Social Care. Installation and running costs are being supported by the London Borough of Hillingdon.
- The defibrillator is accessible to the public by foot at any hour of the day or night.
- In the event of an emergency, call 999. The call handler will give you the code to unlock the cabinet.
Eastcote House Gardens
Eastcote House Gardens is a beautiful, tranquil, award-winning open green space with a Tudor dovecote, stables and walled garden, all of which are Grade II listed. Although the Gardens are owned by the London Borough of Hillingdon, they are maintained by a volunteer group – the Friends of Eastcote House Gardens, who were awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2016. Working with Hillingdon Council, the Friends made a successful bid for National Lottery funding of £1.3 million to restore the Tudor buildings in 2014.
Since 2008 the Friends have transformed the gardens into a series of different areas, including:
- The Jubilee Orchard, planted to celebrate the 2012 Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.
- A magnificent Prairie Garden.
- The Old Orchard with its stunning azalea bed and rockery.
- Replanting of the boundaries, adding thousands of spring bulbs including a magnificent drift of snowdrops.
We have recently created a Jubilee Bed to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Eastcote House Gardens is linked via a footbridge across the River Pinn to Long Meadow, which is a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation also maintained by the volunteers.
Information, walks and activity leaflets can all be found here.
Perfect hidden gem…….lovely walled garden, little bridge perfect for Pooh-sticks.
Ideal for family picnics and relaxing. A nice day out that’s free to all.
It’s all so beautifully and lovingly looked after, and the walled garden is just wonderful – a cornucopia of gorgeous flowers and plants.
Virtual Tours
The London Borough of Hillingdon has made a series of videos giving a virtual tour of the heritage sites within the Borough. The tour of Eastcote House Gardens can be seen here. For the complete series, click here.
Our Glorious Gardens
Click on the image below to view a set of photographs of the Gardens through all four seasons.
Gardens Café
The Café is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. every day.
Finding Us
Please click on the map below for full details on how to find us.
Gardener's Friends
Two winter visitors share the volunteer gardeners' biscuits at coffee break!
