Metropolitan Public Gardens Association
The Metropolitan Public Gardens Association (also known as the MPGA) is a charity in London for the purposes of the preservation of public parks and gardens, established in 1882. It facilitated the creation of new public open spaces, including from philanthropic landowners within its membership. The MPGA was involved in the formation and development of other amenity organisations. The charity still exists; in recent decades its emphasis has changed to smaller parcels of land and smaller projects within larger spaces, as well as to themed projects. The MPGA was the starting point for the careers of  the ground-breaking female landscape gardeners Fanny Wilkinson and Madeline Agar. History. The Irish philanthropist Lord Brabazon (who, from 1887, was the 12th Earl of Meath) wanted to make more effort than the Kyrle Society (of which he was a member) was able to do to capitalise on the Metropolitan Open Spaces Act 1881. The Kyrle Society had been formed in 1876. The 1881 Act, which had been prompted by lobbying from Octavia Hill and the Kyrle Society, enabled disused burial grounds to be transferred to local authorities, together with the power to use public funds to maintain them as  public gardens. In 1884 the Kyrle Society cleared and restored as public open space the derelict burial ground of St George's, Bloomsbury, north of Coram's Fields. The MPGA contributed £100 to the cost, but was not informed of the opening of St George's Gardens. The MPGA was initially formed as the Metropolitan Public Gardens, Boulevard and Playground Association in 1882, before changing its name in 1885. The principal objects were stated to be the protection, preservation, safeguarding and acquiring for permanent preservation for public use, of gardens, disused burial grounds, churchyards, open spaces, or any land  within the Metropolitan Police District, as well as the provision of seats and the planting of trees. The creation of the MPGA was a direct consequence of the closure of London churchyards in the 1850s. In 1848-49 a cholera epidemic had killed 14,601 people in London and completely overwhelmed the existing burial system. The result was a series of Burial Acts (1852, 1853, 1855, 1857 and 1859) and the establishment of a second wave of publicly-run cemeteries in outer London, to complement the privately-run Magnificent Seven cemeteries that had been established after 1832. Nevertheless, only limited official  use could be given to the closed burial grounds, until the Metropolitan Open Spaces Acts of 1877 and 1881, which made provisions for public use of burial grounds for exercise and recreation. It was this statutory provision that the MPGA stepped in to employ. The burial grounds remained consecrated, and the Open Spaces Act 1887, promoted by the MPGA, permitted the playing of sports and games on consecrated land with the consent of the bishop. The MPGA worked closely with the London County Council (established in 1889), which led to the London County Council (General Powers) Act 1910. The 1910  Act extended the LCC's powers in respect of burial grounds. After the initial focus on converting burial grounds to public gardens and recreation grounds, the MPGA turned its attention to the preservation of London squares. The result was the London Squares and Enclosures (Preservation) Act 1906, which protected 64 named squares, the London Squares Preservation Act 1931, which protected 461 named squares, and provisions in the Civic Amenities Act 1967, which introduced the concept of conservation areas, relevant for the impact on underground development beneath the squares. Fanny Wilkinson was appointed the landscape gardener of the MPGA in 1884 , and in 20 years laid out 75 public gardens for the MGPA. Two key features were the provision of drinking fountains and seats. The purpose of both of these was to dissuade people from public houses. Wilkinson left the MPGA in 1904. Her successor was Madeline Agar, who held the position for almost 25 years. Projects. Historic projects. The number of parks and gardens and other public spaces that the MPGA funded and developed is so extensive that a complete list would be almost impossible to compile. Many remain extant. The list of notable projects below is set out in  chronological order of the MPGA's involvement, rather than the date of the open space itself. London Spade. Since 1967, the MPGA has awarded the 'London Spade' each year to individuals and institutions that have made significant contributions to London’s green open spaces.