Battersea is fortunate in both the extent, and the quality, of its green and open spaces.

The biggest and best-known is Battersea Park, opened in 1858 on the site of old Battersea Fields, listed Grade II* on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens, and covering 83 hectares (200 acres). Despite their names, large parts of Clapham Common (89 hectares, 220 acres) and Wandsworth Common (69.4 hectares, 171 acres) also lie within Battersea’s boundaries. These three big open spaces were all once part of the common agricultural land of the original riverside village of Battersea, used to supply its early inhabitants with rough grazing, brushwood and gravel. We owe their preservation to the Victorians, who recognised the importance of recreational green space for health and happiness in a time of rapid urbanisation.

Battersea also has a fine assortment of smaller neighbourhood parks, public gardens and other green open spaces. Some of these are again Victorian or Edwardian in origin (Christchurch Gardens, Vicarage Gardens, Latchmere Recreation Ground, St Mary’s Cemetery); others such as Falcon and Shillington Parks, Heathbrook Park and Fred Wells Gardens were created following Second World War bomb damage, and a programme of slum clearance. The Thames Path too, with its iconic views across the river to Pimlico and Chelsea, was only created as Battersea’s riverside industries were replaced by residential development, a process which began in the 1980s and is still continuing. Indeed two completely new parks, as well as further sections of the Thames Path, are being provided within the ongoing redevelopment of Battersea Power Station and Nine Elms. York Gardens will also be re-sited and upgraded within the current regeneration of Wandsworth Council’s York Road and Winstanley Estates.

Our Open Spaces committee exists to protect, promote and where possible encourage the improvement and extension of this wonderful local resource; our formal terms of reference can be found here. To this end we consult as required with Wandsworth Council, Enable Leisure & Culture (which manages the parks on its behalf) and other relevant bodies, such as the Friends’ organisations for Battersea Park, Clapham Common and Wandsworth Common, and the Wandsworth Tree Wardens. We have also published Discovering Battersea’s Open Spaces, a pocket-sized guide offering six mapped walks connecting and exploring all our local open spaces; it can be purchased here.

The committee meets every two months and its current members are Chris Brodie, John Burn, Barbara De Ferry Foster, Clare Graham (Chair), David Rathbone, Barbara Simmonds and Camilla Ween. A larger network of members also helps out by keeping an eye on their nearest open space for us. Should you be interested in getting involved in either capacity, please email us.