The Friends of Grangewood Park was set up in March 2010 with the aim of preserving, maintaining and enhancing Grangewood Park as well as promoting its use by the local community. 

In July that same year FoGP held its first Picnic in the Park which has run ever year until Covid hit in 2020. The family event has provided much fun and entertainment for generations of park users and we hope it will return in 2022.

We also  hold a much loved Halloween Spooktacular which is attended by hundreds of local children. Sadly, it hasn’t taken place for the last two years but  has temporarily been replaced by a popular Pumpkin Trail organised by local parents. 

We were lucky enough in 2019 to hold our first outdoor cinema which was a fantastic success.

We have also organised a number of action days and activities over the years and raising funds for a variety of projects which has seen us paint a mural on the side of the park hut,  repair a mosaic in the cultural garden and carry out numerous gardening projects . We have restored the pond  in the cultural garden on at least three occasions but sadly each time it was vandalised and have also planted many trees including an English Oak to help carry on the park’s amazing legacy.

This year, The Friends,  decided to focus on organising one big event which was  the park’s 120th birthday celebrations but we will also be holding the annual lantern procession and Christmas carols in the park which will be particularly special this year.

The Friends are joining forces with St Paul’s Church which is celebrating its 150th anniversary and St Albans Church which marked 130 years in Thornton Heath to put on an extra special Christmas carol service. More details to come.

We have been lucky enough to forge a number of partnerships over the years most notably with the London Wildlife Trust as part of the Heritage Lottery funded Great North Wood project. This has involved many action and planting days with informative butterfly and bug hunts.

The park is managed and maintained by the council who are responsible for its upkeep, so if you have a health and safety issue or complaint about an issue in the park email  The park is also represented by three ward councillors from the Thornton Heath ward who can be contacted here: 

The park is known for its much loved and friendly squirrel population especially generations of white squirrels which have been frequent visitors to the park over the years.

With the support of successive Community Ward budgets we have been able to acquire two picnic benches, and three memorial benches.

The park offers a mix of formal and informal spaces including the cultural garden, sunken garden and orchard.

More recently the sunken garden has been revived with an edible garden project which has seen plants and raised beds created thanks to a crowdfunding appeal and the hard efforts of volunteers.

There are also a number of facilities including: bowling club, tennis courts, basket ball court, MUGA, playground and more recently an outdoor gym.

If you want to get in touch email The Friends: friendsofgrangewood@yahoo.co.uk