Metropolitan Public Gardens Association

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The Metropolitan Public Gardens Association (MPGA) is a London charity created in 1882 to protect and create public parks and gardens. It helped turn land donated by supporters into open spaces and supported the development of other public-amenity groups. The MPGA still exists, but today it focuses on smaller plots of land, smaller projects within larger spaces, and themed projects.

The MPGA began as the Metropolitan Public Gardens, Boulevard and Playground Association and changed its name in 1885. Its aims were to protect and permanently preserve for public use gardens, disused burial grounds, churchyards, open spaces, or any land in the Metropolitan Police District, and to provide seats and plant trees.

The idea grew after churchyards began closing in the 1850s following a cholera outbreak and several Burial Acts. The Metropolitan Open Spaces Acts of 1877 and 1881 let burial grounds be used for public recreation and maintained with public funds. The MPGA used these powers to create usable public spaces.

The Kyrle Society, formed in 1876, helped inspire this work. In 1884 the Kyrle Society opened St George’s Gardens in Bloomsbury as a public space, and the MPGA contributed £100, though it was not told about the opening.

Fanny Wilkinson became the MPGA’s landscape gardener in 1884 and, over about 20 years, designed around 75 public gardens, adding drinking fountains and seats to discourage visits to pubs. She left in 1904. Her successor, Madeline Agar, led the team for nearly 25 years.

The MPGA worked closely with the London County Council (LCC), founded in 1889, and supported later laws that extended the LCC’s powers over burial grounds. After focusing on burial grounds, the MPGA turned to protecting London squares. The London Squares and Enclosures (Preservation) Act 1906 protected 64 named squares, the London Squares Preservation Act 1931 protected 461 squares, and the Civic Amenities Act 1967 introduced conservation areas that affect development beneath squares.

The MPGA funded and helped create many parks and open spaces, and many still exist. Listing every project would be nearly impossible, but notable work continued over the years. Since 1967, the MPGA has awarded the London Spade each year to individuals or groups that have made significant contributions to London’s green spaces.