Background

Edith Gardens is a peaceful nature reserve in Surbiton, Kingston. The site has an interesting history, previously used as an air-raid shelter during World War II and later converted into an allotment. In 1992, however, it was designated a Local Nature Reserve and with it came its associated protections.

Back in 2019, with support from Kingston Council and local volunteers, and with funding from the Ministry of Housing and Local Communities, we restored the reserve, removing rubbish, installing a wildlife pond, dead and living hedges, whilst also enhancing floral diversity. We now run education visits to the site, rewilding days, and in 2020, we joined the Curiosity Project to deliver rewilding sessions for Kingston Carers young carers!

Today, this reserve needs ongoing upkeep to ensure it is maintained for the benefit of people and wildlife, which is made possible with the support of our volunteers. We have created a Friends of Group to ensure that the local community is able to access the site. The goal of the project is to create a safe space for people to enjoy and for the local community to feel a sense of ownership over the development of the site.

If you live locally and are interested in being a part of the Friends of Group, don’t hesitate to contact [email protected] for more information.

Recent Changes to Edith Gardens

In 2025, we received a grant from Kingston Council as part of their Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy. This grant is going towards the creation of a sensory garden at Edith Gardens, to provide a safe and private oasis to those who may not have access to other green spaces.

We are extending the accessible path so it reaches more of the site. This includes creating a new space to sit and relax under a sunshade beside the existing pond. By providing several places to pause and take in nature, visitors can shape their experience around what they need on the day. We are also adding a new wildlife pond, planting a mix of larger trees and fruit trees, and creating more habitat features, including bug hotels and bee banks, to support a wider range of species.

Image: The team beginning the sensory garden project in January 2026

This is an incredible opportunity and we are delighted to have been awarded funding to make this happen. Once the groundwork has been completed, we will host volunteer days on site to begin the new planting and habitat restoration work. If you are interested in helping us with this restoration mission, please sign up to our volunteer sessions and come along. We’d love to welcome you!

How to get involved:

To help us maintain this quiet reserve, why not become a member today and also contribute to our wider mission or Rewild Our Future? Alternatively, you can donate today or sign up to one of our volunteer sessions on the site.