I am still stunned by the new (or is it 'old') look Walpole Park. It bears little resemblance in feel to the old evolved park that have grown over a century to meet the needs of Ealing's population.While I can see that some historical positioning was required to get the money out of the Heritge Lottery Fund I cannot understand the logic behind some of the changes. For example, the raised vegetable beds in what was the rose garden. Raised beds made out of pressure-treated timber would not have been used in Soames' era.However, livestock, including chickens, rabbits, ducks, geese, quail, doves, pigs, etc. would have been an important part of a household like this. Likewise the use of glasshouses to grow fruit and exotic plants and flowers.The restoration of the zoo or animal area that probably grew out of the house husbandry would have made much more sense than a pre-fab garishly-coloured reception centre and events area.The area around the stream and arched pond leaves me stunned. Is there more to come, or is this just to remain a barren yellowed work area for al fresco drinkers? It seems to me that too much of a compromise has been made to support events and festivals (which are no longer aimed at or largely attended by local Ealingites but instead are used as some business generation system for Ealing) rather than the needs and wants of the locals.The only thing in my mind that would save this situation would be the planting up of the area around the stream to reflect the popular layout it hard previously, and the removal of the festival and the events establishment to Blondin Park which seems to show an unusual affinity for hosting festival events well.
Neil F. Weber ● 4293d