2025 on the Commons
2025 has been another busy year on the Commons for the whole of the WPCC team, from the mounted keepers and maintenance to the playing fields and fundraisers. Here are just a few highlights:
Mounted Keepers
Our keepers are, for many, the symbol of the Commons. In addition to their regular patrol duties and upholding byelaws, they have represented the Commons at key events including the Wimbledon Village VE Day 80th Anniversary Service of Remembrance in May - when Carl Lacey gave a tribute representing the British Army - and Remembrance Sunday, when they attended Wimbledon, Roehampton and REMPF War Memorials on horse and on foot. They have also hosted various schools and groups in 2025 including the Roehampton Base Group, Rowans School, Wimbledon Village Safer Neighbourhood Team and the British Equestrian Trade Association.
Following Scrumpy’s retirement from service, the horses have gained a new stablemate, Overcast, who underwent initial police training, then was tried out for The Household Division stables before coming to the Commons.
Conservation
Both Wimbledon Common and Putney Lower Common won a Gold Award at the 2025 London in Bloom Awards, the largest horticultural campaign in London. Wimbledon Common was also named London Common of the Year – for the seventh time! Our success is due in part to our volunteers who have again dedicated their care and 1000s of hours to the Commons this year: from scrub bashers and litter pickers, to wildlife recorders, Duke of Edinburgh and the Farm Bog group and the Beverley Brook volunteers helping to remove invasive non-native Himalayan balsam.
One of the rarest native deciduous hardwood trees in the UK, the black poplar has been in decline due to habitat loss and poor genetic diversity. We have introduced seven saplings to Putney Lower Common, which we are aiming to be become as established as those along the Thames towpath in neighbouring Barnes, the remnants of a wild population.
Maintenance
The team have been busy across the Commons working on major projects such as the Windmill Repairs - overseeing the repair of the sails and internal electrics - and the Restoration of Queensmere Pond, but also day to day maintenance including tree safety work and conservation-focused tree work to help increase woodland biodiversity.
They have carried out meadow restoration works, including essential late-summer cut and collect grassland management, mimicking the ecological role of grazing cattle, and creating bare ground scrapes for planting new wildflower meadows.
The Playing Fields
Our playing fields hosted three major events this year: the Schools Rugby 7s, the world’s largest schools rugby tournament; the Ghurkha Welfare Trust Annual 5km Doko Challenge, based on the traditional Gurkha Recruitment Doko race in Nepal. Participants tackled a 5km cross-country route, carrying a traditional Doko basket containing sandbags, to raise funds for the Trust. The London Naadam, a celebration of the Mongolian Day of Culture, featured wrestling, target archery, traditional dance, music and costumes. The Commons also welcomed Ibstock Place School and Roehampton Elite grassroots football academy, who are using the playing fields as their sports bases.
In an effort to prevent match cancellations due to waterlogged pitches, two additional chambers, 2m diameter and 2.3 m deep, have been constructed, connected to the existing drains at Friars Avenue, to allow excess water on the pitches to freely drain away. The team have also created a French drain in front of the pavilion, designed to allow rainwater to drain away through gravel.
Fundraising
Helped by the generosity of our Friends, Benefactors and supporters, we have raised circa £340,000 this year.
You supported our Windmill Restoration Appeal, launched after the Grade-1 listed Windmill was struck by lightning in July and was in urgent need of which was in urgent need of repair. The appeal raised an incredible £21,000 in just 18 days! You also contributed to the Big Give Green Match fund in aid of an important hydrology study, which will help us to understand how to manage water across the Commons, to help manage flooding (and muddy paths!), and you recently donated to the Big Give Christmas Challenge, helping to raise more than £14,000 for path restoration on Putney Heath. Finally, although our annual Open Day was cancelled due to adverse weather, our new online Prize Draw raised more than £3,500.
Our commemorative bench scheme remains ever-popular (with a constant waiting list). Several new benches have been installed across the Commons over the past year, from Putney Lower Common, via Queensmere to Rushmere Green, with tributes including a memorial bench for players and supporters of AFC Wimbledon at REMPF.
THANK YOU for all your support in 2025 which has allowed us to conserve and care for our beloved Commons. We wish you a Happy New Year!