Behind the Scenes
The Trustees of Wimbledon and Putney Commons, the Conservators, are keen to make public more information about what goes on behind the scenes of the running of the Commons.
At their meeting in June 2018, the Conservators therefore undertook to publish the following information:
- the quarterly number of incidents dealt with by the Mounted Keepers including breaches of the Byelaws;
- volunteer hours worked across the Commons;
- dates and locations when Conservators and/or senior staff make formal presentations to Residents’ Associations or other Groups/Societies
- visitor feedback (respecting restrictions regarding disclosure of personal information);
- donations (respecting the right of donors to remain anonymous);
- numbers of formal complaints received;
- other information that is deemed appropriate from time to time.
Keepers
The Keepers are highly visible on the Commons as they patrol on horseback. As well as being able to provide information to the public, a major part of their role is to enforce the Commons' Byelaws and ensure that the Commons remain a safe place for all our visitors.
From April 2019 to June 2019, the Keepers have dealt with the following number of incidents:
Cyclists 116
Dogs 88
Golf 23
Rough Sleepers 11
BBQ’s 13
Litter 13
Parking 8
Miscellaneous 84
From July to September 2019, the Keepers have dealt with the following number of incidents:
Cyclists 137
Dogs 40
Golf 11
Rough Sleepers 22
BBQs 16
Litter 17
Parking 7
Miscellaneous 91
From October to December 2019, the Keepers have dealt with the following number of incidents:
Cyclists 49
Dogs 33
Golf 10
Rough Sleepers 10
BBQs 3
Litter 6
Parking 15
Miscellaneous 50
From January to March 2020, the Keepers have dealt with the following number of incidents:
Cyclists 69
Dogs 34
Golf 28
Rough Sleepers 4
BBQs 2
Litter 5
Parking 3
Miscellaneous 49
Volunteering
Although the Conservators have a duty to maintain the Commons as "open and unenclosed" and in a "natural state", as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) a certain amount of management is required to ensure the heath and acid grassland remains as it should. Without intervention, the Commons would soon become a large area of woodland. Equally as importantly, with the Commons being such a popular area for visitors, we must ensure it is kept as safe as possible.
With such a small team of staff, managing the conservation work on top of the day to day maintenance is challenging. Over the last three years our Conservation and Engagement Officer has been slowly building up a team of volunteers that help out with various tasks. Starting with the Saturday morning Scrub Bashers, who help clear scrub from the Heath, Peter now also has an "Estates Team" that help with jobs around the site, perhaps ditch maintenance, painting the stable yard, all things that again help ease the pressure on our Maintenance team.
But there are many other types of volunteering too. From organised groups from local schools, organisations and companies that come along for a day of team building, to individuals out with a litter stick and a carrier bag; or our wildlife volunteers that help us record the Commons' wildlife and helping out at events. We are grateful for every single hour that every single volunteer gives so selflessly.
April 2019 to March 2020
Scrub bashers - 376 hours
Mid-week volunteers - 189 hours
Other volunteer groups - 1,338 hours
Duke of Edinburgh volunteers - 285 hours
London Wildlife Trust Farm Bog volunteers - 84 hours
Work experience - 56 hours
Other volunteers – 135 hours
Adopt an Area Litter Pickers - 1445 hours
Total volunteering hours 3908
Formal Presentations
Conservators and staff are often asked to make presentations to organisations such as local Residents' Associations or local history societies.
April 2019 to June 2019
30th May – Presentation by Chairman, Diane Neil Mills to members of the Parkside Residents Association
9th June 2019 Presentation by the Chairman, Diane Neil Mills to the Belvedere Estates Residents Association
10th June – Presentation by Simon Lee to members of the Wimbledon Common Residents' Association
July to September 2019
None
October to December 2019
8th October - Presentation by Simon Lee to members of the Edgehill Residents Association
29th November - Presentation by Simon Lee at Putney Library
9th December - General Open Meeting Presentations by Chairman, Diane Neil Mills and Simon Lee, CEO, and Richard Thompson, Head Keeper.
January to March 2020
None
Walks/talks
As well as formal presentations, Conservators and staff are involved in a series of walks and talks organised on the Commons, some of which are private in that they have been requested by specific organisations or schools, or public walks led by the Commons' Senior Staff either as one-off events or as part of larger events.
April 2019 to June 2019
3rd April – Stables visit by children from South Mead Children’s Group
9th April – Stables visit by children from Willington School
21st, 22nd & 23rd June – BioBlitz - various walks and talks
July to September 2019
9th July – Walking for Health
10th July – Management led walk on Putney Lower Common
13th July – Stables visit by Stag Lodge Pony Club
23rd July – Walking for Health
28th July – Butterfly and Dragonfly walk led by volunteers
6th August – Walking for Health
20th August – Walking for Health
3rd September – Walking for Health
15th September - Bird walk led by volunteers
17th September – Walking for Health
October to December 2019
9th October - Management led walk on Wimbledon Common
13th October - Bird Walk led by volunteers
15th & 29th October -Walking for Health
5th November - Keepers' talk to pupils and teachers from Wimbledon Study School
12th November - Walking for Health
17th November - Winter Bird Walk led by volunteers
26th November - Walking for Health
10th December - Walking for Health
January to March 2020
7th & 21st January - Walking for Health
4th & 18th February - Walking for Health
All other walks for this period were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Visitor Feedback
Our Visitor Survey is ongoing here
Donations
April 2019 to March 2020
Vountary Parking Donations - £3,160
Bench Donations - £15,695
Horseride Appeal - £20,408
Wildlife Garden - £6,474
Friends - £19,776
Sundry Donations - £15,057
Formal Complaints
April 2019 to March 2020 - 0