Petition is successful with 11,507 signatures
To: Greenwich Council
Save Maryon Wilson Animal Park
The council have removed this proposed cut from the budget. The animal park is now safe for 4 years.
Now we need to see investment in the park to keep it going for the next generation.
We, the undersigned, call on Greenwich Council to maintain funding of Maryon Wilson Park Animal Care Centre, for the benefit of citizens within and beyond the borough.
It is one of Charlton's defining and distinguishing characteristics and must remain within the public domain, available for all to use. This park needs investment, promotion and celebration (it's 100 years old in 2026), not defunding, devaluing and deterioration.
We are extending the petition time as Greenwich have taken this off the agenda from full council meeting on 29th Jan - we need to show the council that this park matters to Charlton, the whole borough of Greenwich and beyond.
Thank you to everyone that joined us on Sunday 26th Jan, at St Thomas's Church, Woodland Terrace, SE7 8EW and met our Ward Councillors, showing your strong support for this campaign.
We are extending the petition time as Greenwich have taken this off the agenda from full council meeting on 29th Jan - we need to show the council that this park matters to Charlton, the whole borough of Greenwich and beyond.
Thank you to everyone that joined us on Sunday 26th Jan, at St Thomas's Church, Woodland Terrace, SE7 8EW and met our Ward Councillors, showing your strong support for this campaign.
Why is this important?
Maryon Wilson Park is on Thorntree Road Charlton, London, situated nearby to Maryon Park. The animal care centre is hugely popular with both locals and visitors to the area. It's an oasis of calm in a bustling area and should be saved for all.
Greenwich Council are seeking to offload the responsibility and costs of the animal centre in their budget cuts. Our petition aim is to convince the council that this is a mistake and is totally against the wishes of the local electorate. It is irresponsible of the council to expect the local community to provide a business case to run this service. The park is for all residents and benefits the community in supporting mental health and wellbeing, social cohesion, kindness and understanding. It's highly educational and well used by schools and pre-school families.
Greenwich Council are seeking to offload the responsibility and costs of the animal centre in their budget cuts. Our petition aim is to convince the council that this is a mistake and is totally against the wishes of the local electorate. It is irresponsible of the council to expect the local community to provide a business case to run this service. The park is for all residents and benefits the community in supporting mental health and wellbeing, social cohesion, kindness and understanding. It's highly educational and well used by schools and pre-school families.
The park serves many local schools and people travel from far & wide to visit. It is one of the distinguishing and defining features of the area - it's loss would be far-reaching, detrimental to the area and community.
- The animal park is located in Maryon Wilson Park, which also includes woodlands, grasslands, and streams
- The park is home to domestic animals like sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, geese, horses and ducks
- The park offers free public tours where visitors can feed, stroke, and handle the animals
- For the last 50 years the Charlton Park Riding for Disabled ponies have been stabled there, a fantastic charity supporting children with disabilities and their families
- Maryon Wilson Park is a key feature of the Green Chain Walk, used by over 250,000 ramblers every year
The park offers an unique opportunity for the whole community to connect with nature and experience animals up close. A treasured green space in a rapidly developing area, this park offers respite, comfort and joy to those who most need it. It teaches kindness, empathy and connection in a world that is becoming increasingly less so. This is a hub of wellbeing for young and old, no matter what your income.
We need to show the council that this park is loved and valued by residents in and out of the borough, so we ask that you write an email or letter to your Ward Councillors, copy in the Mayor of Greenwich, the executive lead of Greenwich Council and our MP, Matthew Pennycook. A short email to all of them on what the park means to you will really help this campaign.
Find your ward councillor here: https://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/info/200155/councillors_and_elected_officials/598/find_your_councillor
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Thanks so much from all of the residents of Charlton for supporting this campaign.
Save the Animal Park (SOAP)!
How it will be delivered
The petition was presented on 29th January - and the council has announced that it has removed the park from the proposed budget cuts - we did it! We saved the park.
