Welcome to Chiswick House Friends
We are a charitable organisation established in 1984 to support the operation, development and protection of Chiswick House and Gardens. We work closely with the Chiswick House and Gardens Trust (CHGT), which manages the estate, to organise and sponsor special events and to raise funds for essential refurbishment projects, educational initiatives and acquisitions.
As well as fund-raising for special projects in the House and Gardens, we aim to represent the local community and act as a link between our members and the Chiswick House and Gardens Trust. Our goal is for Chiswick House and Gardens to flourish in the long term and provide enjoyment and education for all who visit the estate.
Events
Chiswick House Dog Show 2024 – 22nd September 2024
This will be the 20th anniversary of what is now considered to be the ‘largest free dog show in London.’ This community event, organised by a committee of dog-loving volunteers, is held in late September every year on the cricket pitch in the grounds of Chiswick House, and proceeds from this go towards the maintenance and projects in the gardens.
Tree Trail
The trail winds between some of the best known trees in the Gardens.
History Trail
The trail winds between the best known historic items in the Gardens.
Volunteering to help at the Show
Each year it takes about 150 volunteers to make our show the event it is today. All that fun takes a lot of organising! If you can spare us 2 hours of your time on Show Day we would love to hear from you!
There are a whole host of jobs to be done including:
Setting up the show and traffic management from 7.30am and dismantling the show from 4pm
Helping at the Bar (over 25s only) and Class Registration desk (9.30am – 4.30pm)
Stewards and Bucket Rattlers* from (10am - 6pm)
Ring Runners** and Marshals (10.45am – 4.15pm)
Photographers - to take photographs throughout the day
* Suitable for young volunteers over 9 years old or younger if supervised by an adult
** Young volunteers over 9 years old
Very changeable weather this February and March. Early to middle March was very warm causing the terrapins to come out of hibernation and bask in the sun, while it was very cold in late March.
Photograph by Paul Brown
Dr David Jacques has published a new book about the Gardens: “300 Years of Creation and Recreation”. It chronicles a hard-fought and never-ending contest – between the natural forces of change and decay on the one side, and the desire by we humans to preserve and cherish our finest creations on the other.
The Chiswick House Friends donated £20,000 to the first stage restoration of the Chiswick House and Gardens playground by the café. The first phase will fix the broken equipment and make the playground safe. A subsequent fundraiser will be launched to invest in new equipment.
This brings to £60,000 donations to the House and Gardens from the Friends since Covid restrictions began and includes £25,000 raised by the Chiswick House Lego Brick Model.
It wasn’t the best of days weather-wise but it didn’t stop nearly 600 dogs registering in the 17 classes this year! The day before had glorious weather, perfect for getting the site ready for the show.
I was hoping to introduce myself and talk about future plans. But unfortunately events have overtaken us and I have been catapulted into COVID-19 crisis management.
The lockdown has affected all other events in the House and Gardens: most have either been cancelled or postponed. This leaves the Chiswick House and Gardens Trust in a financially desperate position.
We are pleased to introduce you to Sir Derek Myers, newly appointed Chairman of the Chiswick House and Gardens Trust. We recently met Derek to talk about his new role and his plans for the future.
It's been a busy summer for the Trust with the appointment of a new Chairman, many visitors and activities, and lots to celebrate.
Our pair of male swans did not go to the Thames to moult this year but stayed here. The long term resident Egyptian goose pair who lost their breeding nest tree have been eased out by a younger pair who have not yet bred…
This picture, which was published by Country Life in April 1901, shows an ivy-engulfed statue of a mythical sphinx in the Gardens.
It’s now officially spring and the gardens are looking lovely with the spring flowers and blossoms emerging. The camellias bloomed earlier than last year because of the milder weather, and the Camellia Show was a great success.
This year it will be 35 years since the Friends was formed: in this article we look at some highlights.
The Carol Concert was held in front of the House last December in very cold, wet weather! In spite of this there was a cheerful gathering of Friends and visitors.
The pair of Egyptian Geese, whose breeding tree fell down last June, have still not yet found a replacement nesting tree, but they are checking out a cedar.