About us

The Metropolitan Public Gardens Association (MPGA) is a long-established Charity which over the years has played a vital role in the preservation and improvement of countless gardens, neglected sites and green open spaces across London.

The Association provides grants to those who share a desire to improve the environment and thus the quality of life for the local community. The work enables the Association to develop contact with a wide variety of groups, including local councils, schools, hospitals, hospices, museums, voluntary organizations and community groups.

The Association is run by an Executive Committee of ten people with Rex Thornborough MStJ, RD as the current Chairman. Hugh Johnson OBE is the President.

The Association is often called on to support to protect urban greenspaces from inappropriate development and funding has been allocated and letters written in support of retaining, enhancing and protecting high quality urban green spaces.

The Association keeps in contact with the London Gardens Trust who are statutory consultee (devolved from The Gardens Trust/ Historic England for Listed Landscapes) and other London wide conservation connections and organisations in the green space arena.

There are no paid staff and the Association is run on a volunteer basis.

The Association’s records, which go back to 1882, have frequently proved invaluable in connection with grant applications to the Heritage Lottery Fund. In addition to advice given on funding, committee members also provide horticultural expertise over a wide range of issues.

MPGA rely entirely on voluntary contributions and funds come from a number of different sources, for example, the invested income from past donations, grants, subscriptions and bequests. These funds are critical to the aims and objectives of the Charity. There is a close association with The Worshipful Company of Gardeners.

MPGA is keen to raise awareness of the work of the MPGA, particularly the Grant Scheme and aim to attract new members and to build up the level of annual subscriptions.