Taking care of Barnes Common, Vine Road Park and the Leg-o-Mutton reservoir, requires well over £100,000 funding per year.

These valuable green and open spaces are shared by thousands of visitors each year, many looking to find some peace in our increasingly busy city, and a wealth of animals and plants. This includes an internationally rare habitat – lowland acid grassland – plus 4,000 trees that are doing their best to absorb particulate matter and carbon dioxide.

Maintaining a balance with nature in such a pressurised urban environment is an ongoing challenge requiring time, money, expertise and sensitive management.

Although part of our funding is covered by the Council, it is only through the generosity of our members and supporters that we are able to sustain this work and to be able to offer such a wide range of events and activities. These include increasing opportunities for those with special needs, promoting ideas for outdoor learning for all ages, expanding our horticultural activities and providing vital species monitoring in our conservation work.

Make a donation

Every donation, no matter how small or large, helps our work. Every penny raised is used to directly support our conservation, community engagement and outdoor learning aims today and in the future. Please remember that as a charity, any donation is eligible for gift aid which can add 25% to your donation’s value. Click here to donate.

The Richmond Runfest Fundraiser

Are you looking for a challenge this year that also helps support a local charity? We’ve got just the thing for you: a guaranteed charity place at the Richmond Runfest on Sunday 14th September. Choose the 10k or the half marathon distance and enjoy a flat course starting inside the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. Raising charity donations for us, you will be contributing to the conservation, education and community work of Barnes Common. To claim one of our charity places, please contact Jackie and find more information about the race on our website.

Leave a Gift in Your Will

By leaving a gift to Barnes Common in your will, you can make a lasting, meaningful contribution to our community, enabling us to continue to protect and conserve our green spaces for everyone, now and in the future. Find out more about leaving us a gift in your will here.

Become a Friend

In addition to our free to join Barnes Common Friends scheme, we have launched a ‘Keystone’ membership to recognise and encourage more donors to support us at £50 a year or more. It is named after keystone species, which play integral and sometimes crucial roles in the functioning and health of the ecosystems in which they exist. As a Barnes Common Keystone Friend, your contribution will help preserve our green spaces for all its inhabitants today and in the future.

Keystone membership gives you extras such as 25% off tickets to all events for yourself and up to four guests, and invitations to attend occasional Keystone Friend activities. Both Keystone and regular Friends receive our printed newsletter 3 times a year, as well as a monthly e-mail with our latest news, project updates, events and how you can get involved, including volunteering opportunities. Click here to become our Friend.

Volunteer

If you would like to help us not only safeguard our wildlife but also continue providing enjoyment and inspiration for the Common’s users, we would love to hear from you. Volunteering with us is a great way to learn new skills, meet like-minded people and help us deliver our conservation, community and education engagement projects. Click here to find our current volunteer vacancies.