Thames Landscape Strategy - Hampton to Kew -

London’s Arcadia

London’s Arcadia is a successful £3.3m Heritage Lottery Funded scheme to restore, open up and enhance the view from Richmond Hill between Radnor Gardens in Twickenham and Richmond Lock.

The project began work on the ground in 2005 and aims to bring together the public open spaces along the river that form the View (the only view in the UK deemed so special that it is protected by an Act of Parliament). This requires regenerating and managing all aspects of the river environment for both people and wildlife.

Throughout the three-year project thousands of trees and many kilometres of native hedgerows will be planted and laid in the traditional way. Long sections of the riverbank will be planted with reedbeds, sedges and willows re-creating the almost lost Thameside natural environment. Water meadows will be managed and new habitats created to allow wildlife to flourish.

Historic gates and railings will be restored and new accessible entrances created to link and open up riverside open spaces for the first time. New steps and footpaths are being installed and signage improved. Streetlights, bollards, litterbins and benches are being replaced and historic views opened and framed.

The first £1.5m phase of the project is now largely completed with the restoration of Richmond Hill Terrace and the wildflower meadow leading down to the river. Works to Cholmondeley Walk, Bridge House Gardens, Cambridge Gardens, Isleworth Promenade and Richmond Riverside have transformed one of the most used Thameside areas in London. Significantly much of the success of the first phase has been achieved through the use of volunteers.

Phase Two of London’s Arcadia will see the project move to the more pastoral reaches with the replanting of the avenues around Ham House and bio-diversity and streetscape enhancements to the wonderful Warren Footpath that links Twickenham with Richmond Bridge. The final phase will see the completion of works on Richmond Promenade, Radnor Gardens and Twickenham town centres.

In addition to the works on the ground, London’s Arcadia has an ambitious outreach and education programme. A full time officer (one of three members of staff employed to implement the three year HLF scheme) is tasked with rolling out the learning initiative. Care has been taken to link this with all other aspects of the project and includes schools events, guided walks, talks, volunteer activity and publications.

London’s Arcadia is a three-year Heritage Lottery funded scheme inspired to implement the Thames Landscape Strategy. The project is managed by a sub-group of the TLS consisting of a partnership of the following organisations: The London Borough of Richmond (who act as lead partner and manage the delivery of the scheme), The National Trust, English Heritage, The Father Thames Trust and the Environment Agency. In addition, Arcadia works with many local community groups and individuals to deliver the initiative.

The Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £2.3m must be matched to a total of £3.3m by local and national fundraising initiatives. ‘Action Planning’ led by Judi Stewart has been appointed to manage the fundraising initiative. Design of the London’s Arcadia project has been separated into two different sections. The pastoral elements including Richmond Hill, Ham Avenues and towpath has been designed by Kim Wilkie Associates. The more urban areas including Twickenham and Richmond Riverfronts have been designed by CUH2O.

London’s Arcadia HLF-funded Project Manger: Ken MacKenzie
London’s Arcadia HLF-funded Project Officer: Tasha Hunter
London’s Arcadia Education Co-ordinator: Miranda Stearn

For further information visit London’s Arcadia’s website

*In 1902 the view from Richmond Hill became the first view in history to be protected in perpetuity by an Act of Parliament. An original copy of the Act is held in the local studies section of Richmond Museum.