Funding target hit for Vine Road Project

Friends of Barnes Common (FoBC) are appealing to volunteers with a range of skills—from planting, carpentry to marketing—to pitch in at the popular recreation ground.

The charity received funding from Richmond Council in 2019, to appoint a design team to develop the former orchard, which is situated between two sets of train tracks in Barnes.

Vine Road development proposal

FoBC created proposals and launched a public crowdfunder, with the target of raising £23,000 by May 11.

However, the project also received backing from London Major Sadiq Khan, who pledged £13,000 from his new Resilience Fund.

The grant was set up recently to support the capital’s businesses and community groups in their recovery from the coronavirus crisis.

Now, FoBC are in an ‘overfunding’ stage, where they aim to go the extra mile to receive more pledges and volunteers to help get their project off the ground.

Surplus funds will be spent on developing the ‘master plan’ and on immediate small improvements, such as the planting of more trees.

Vine Road Pavilion: Andrew Wilson WILD LONDON.

Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and Skills, Jules Pipe, said: “The Mayor and I believe our communities have some fantastic ideas on how to emerge from the pandemic and bring our city together.

“We’re proud to support this project and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the local community.”

FoBC Chairman, Mike Hildesley, said:

“The Community support is fantastic, and we are thrilled to have this support and endorsement of our Project from the Mayor.

“The campaign remains open and the more we raise now the more design work and improvements we will be able to get done.”

Details of this funding campaign are available here, as well as plans for the Vine Road Project.