History of the Green

Alexandra Millennium Green

The Largest in London

The Alexandra Millennium Green is on target with getting the first of what is hoped to become, an annual event to be held on the Green in the summer months. This is intended to allow local residents and RBK residents to get to know the green better whilst enjoying an afternoon summer picnic. This incentive is run by a local charity which operates and maintains the Green’s use since it was founded in 1991.

The History of the foundation of the Charity is as follows and a shining example for all London Boroughs in how to protect and utilise its green spaces.

The Alexandra Millennium Green was conceived in the early 1990’s by Alexandra Neighbours Association (ANA) in conjunction with the government-sponsored Countryside Agency, who awarded a matched funded grant to finance the project.

The Green was developed with the principal aim of providing Surbiton residents with landscaped parkland for leisure activities. It is situated at the rear of the Tolworth Recreational Park on a 12-acre site that had become available following a decline in demand for leisure gardening plots in the post WW2 years. The area has been a centre for leisure gardening for about 100 years.

An original plan to use the site for housing development was met with a groundswell of protest from Berrylands and Tolworth residents. As a result, Alexandra Neighbours Association was formed in 1992, initially to co-ordinate views of the protesters. The housing development plan was abandoned a year later. ANA then sought to develop the site in a way that would retain the open-air environment the community has long enjoyed.

The Countryside Agency saw potential for our projects and awarded a match-funded grant to construct the Green. At that time, the Agency was involved with creating some 250 Millennium Greens countrywide and ours was to become the largest in London!

The Alexandra Millennium Green Trust (AMGT), whose members represent various local community groups, was set up in 1999 to administer grant funding and hold a 999-year lease on the land awarded by Kingston Council. Since that time ANA and AMGT have worked closely in all matters of construction and later concerns of maintenance and future issues for the Green.

Construction work took about two years and was completed in December 2002 to the full satisfaction of the Countryside Agency. The Trust was then able to declare the Green open for the public to enjoy. Since that time, increasing numbers of Surbiton residents have walked the Green and found pleasure in the amenities it offers.

The Alexandra Millennium Green offers a landscaped central tiered amphitheatre, extensive grass and tree-planted areas, a Millennium Mound, a wetlands area, boundary fences, gateways, pathways, seating and signage.

There are two points of access and both are marked with robust 10ft high signs. One access point lies at the end of the avenue of chestnut trees that leads from the sports pavilion at the King Charles Road side of the recreation ground. The second access point can be reached from Alexandra Drive via the footpath between the tennis courts and the Surbiton Croquet Club grounds.

The Green, however, is not municipally funded, but depends on income that the Trust is able to generate to pay for insurance cover, maintenance work and any future development programmes. Our members have always responded generously with donations to our appeals for extra funds. Unfortunately, there is an ongoing shortfall now that the Trust is involved with the expenses of maintenance work, including grass cutting, tree planting (to replace vandalised stock), and pathway upkeep for example.

To help overcome the shortfall, a ‘Friends of the Green’ membership option was launched after discussion with members at the AGM in July 2005. Under this scheme, the Trust invites new and existing members to pledge an annual subscription of £10 by Bank Standing Order, or other method of choice. Response has been encouraging so far, and we are now looking at ways raising membership levels to produce sufficient income to meet our obligations.

The Trust is continually seeking sources of grant money, but very little available for maintenance costs We are grateful to Kingston Council, however, for recently awarding a substantial grant for the specific purposes of erecting Millennium Green signs at the entrance points and planting replacement trees.

George Mason Membership Secretary ANA/AMGT.

Picnic in the Park
Date: 21st June 2009

This should be a fun filled day for all the family with various live music acts to suit all tastes.

We have theatre comedians and Members of The Magic Circle.

The day is designed to bring friends and family together to enjoy each others company while enjoying a picnic brought from home.

While enjoying your picnic the Radio Jackie Road show will be in attendance to ensure non-stop entertainment throughout the day starting midday.

This will be our very first event held on the green with the aim to create an annual event.

 Event Schedule

12pm      Opening Fanfare and Radio Jackie

1pm        Wednesday Night Project Brass band

2pm        Theo the Magician

2.45pm    Simple Theatre Group 1st set

3.15pm    John Soffe - Comedian

3.45pm    The Loganberries (fiddle duo)

4.30pm    Magic Bus - Magic Session

5.30pm    Telling Tales - Jazz and Blues Band

6.30pm    Simple Theatre Group 2nd set

7.15pm    Mackenzie Taylor - Comedian

7.55pm    Magic Bus - Music Session

(All time are approximate)