Manor House Gardens is an essential part of our community promoting people’s health, social well-being, community cohesion, bio-diversity & heritage. We are concerned about the serious long-term damage being caused by dramatic cuts to budgets for staff and maintenance, and the lack of funding and investment by local and national government. This unfolding slide into crisis must be halted.

After 15 years of investment and improvement, Manor house Gardens is in good shape. However, it is in a serious risk of slipping back into decline, as it did in the 1980’s and 1990’s. Without adequate maintenance, Manor House Gardens will become underused, neglected and vandalised. The immense social and environmental value we have achieved is quickly eroded and it soon becomes a costly liability for the whole community.

Over the next 3 years parks maintenance budgets will be reduced further. This is on top of the deep cuts that have already been made in the last 3 years. Static park keepers and gardeners are next in line, with local knowledge and skills lost and this will have a direct impact on safety.

However, we know that local people love Manor House Gardens. We know that Manor House Gardens is at the heart of our community and drives the growth of the local economy.

Our calls to action include:

• Renewed commitment from Lewisham council
• Establishing new partnerships with other user groups
• Getting our community more involved
• Developing new finance models and rethinking delivery

Together we can avert this return to the past but it will require the concerted effort of all those who use, live near or have an interest in Manor House Gardens.