page_title: Eastcote House Gardens
section_title: Gardens
hierarchical_section_title: Eastcote House Gardens / History / Gardens
caption_attribution_description: English: Gate leading to the Eastcote House Gardens
context_page_description: Eastcote House Gardens is an area of public parkland in Eastcote, within the London Borough of Hillingdon. The site covers 3.63 hectares and incorporates the walled garden, dovecote and coach house of Eastcote House. The house was demolished in 1964 by the Ruislip-Northwood Urban District Council, the predecessor of the London Borough of Hillingdon. At the public's request, the garden and outbuildings were retained and are now maintained by a group of volunteers, the Friends of Eastcote House Gardens, in partnership with the local authority.
  Eastcote House was one of three largest in Eastcote, together with Highgrove House and Haydon Hall. All came to be owned by the RNUDC, but only Highgrove House remains in its original form; Haydon Hall was demolished in 1967 by the RNUDC's successor.
  The coach house, dovecote, and garden walls received Grade II listed status on 6 September 1974. Ecological surveys have found fifty types of trees in the gardens, and numerous species of birds, mammals and insects have been recorded. The gardens received the Green Flag Award in September 2011 following an earlier inspection.
context_section_description: The narrow bricks in the garden walls have been dated to around the 17th century. The walled garden would originally have been used predominantly for growing fruit, vegetables, and herbs for the household's consumption, as well as flowers to exhibit at shows and for pleasure.
  The walled garden, coach house, and dovecote were retained at the public's request when the house was demolished. On 6 September 1974, the garden walls and remaining buildings were awarded Grade II listed status. The herb garden was planted across the four centre beds in 1977 to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II. These included Artemisia, catmint, Santolina and curry plants. To keep the plants within the beds, each was lined by box in 1983.
  The eastern wall was rebuilt in 1981, at which point the northern wall was reduced by seven layers of brick. An area of topiary with seven specimens was planted in 1983 with box, behind the coach house. Lilacs, weeping cherries and hibiscus were planted in 1984 along the garden wall near the coach house.  A pergola covered with laburnum and wisteria was introduced in 1986 leading to the entrance into the walled garden. Between 1986 and 1988, two iron gates and a sundial were added. In the 1990s, the orchard near the walled garden was supplemented by black mulberry, walnut and quince trees.
  A footbridge crossing the River Pinn and leading to Long Meadow was replaced in 2007; the original had been built in 1977. In 2008, the Friends of Eastcote House Gardens was formed to care for the gardens and ensure they remain protected. The group received a £24,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund for the replanting of the gardens, which went ahead in April 2010. The Mayor of Hillingdon officially reopened the gardens on 17 July 2010.
  A survey completed in November 2009 found 50 types of trees in the gardens. Bats were found in the coach house during an ecological survey, but were not believed to be roosting there long-term. Species of birds observed in the gardens have included song thrush, jay, wren, robin, kingfisher and tawny owl. Mammals regularly observed include hedgehogs, grey squirrels and foxes. Butterflies including the holly blue and painted lady have been recorded.
  Hillingdon Council provided a £150,000 grant in September 2010 for the restoration of the buildings. In April 2011, the council joined with the Friends to seek funding of up to £1 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund, to support restoration work. It is planned that the coach house could be converted into a tea room.
  The gardens received the Green Flag Award in 2011 following an earlier inspection. The flag was raised in a ceremony on 14 September 2011.
caption: Detail of the entrance gate to the walled garden
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