HISTORY

Pocket Atlas and Guide to London, Public domain

History of Mudchute

The Mudchute Park & Farm was established by the local Island community. Originally a piece of derelict land created during the last century from the spoil of construction from dredging Millwall Dock. For decades, this hidden natural wilderness of flora and fauna remained untouched. However, in 1974 the site was earmarked by the Greater London Council for the construction of a high rise estate. The resulting public campaign against these plans reflected the affection that local people and those working on the Island felt for The Mudchute. Their success secured it as the "People's Park" for the area.

In 1977 the Mudchute Association was formed to preserve and develop the area. Farm animals and horses were introduced, trees and plants were planted by generous volunteers and corporate teams, and the educational benefits of the area were also recognised. Local schools were encouraged to use the project to study the natural world on their doorsteps. Since the establishment of the Association, The Mudchute has steadily built a reputation for providing a variety of educational and leisure activities on a London-wide basis.

Your Support Makes A Difference

We do not charge admission fees to visit our park and farm which has 32 acres and over 100 animals for people of all ages to enjoy. Every donation received allows us to keep our farm operating to ensure that it remains a free facility for everyone to enjoy all year round.

Katie Chan, CC BY-SA 4.0