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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.

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.  

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.

Flamsteed Rd, London SE7 8HT, UK

Maps © Stamen; Data © OSM and contributors, ODbL

Category

Updates

2026-01-30 17:08:40 +0000

2026 is the centenary year for the animal park. As part of this The Friends of Maryon Wilson Parks are bidding for funding from Greenwich Council to enhance the educational and social value of the park.

You can support the bid by voting for the project here:

https://app.actionfunder.org/fund/909/vote?sharingToken=a8489514-8d8f-43c7-b0cc-c45dcb4e6447

Please vote and share widely to keep the park open and accessible for all.

2025-06-17 11:01:38 +0100

A huge thanks to you for signing the petition. We’d like to invite you to the Park’s annual open day, on Saturday 21st June from 10am to 2pm.

You can meet the animals, see the sheep being sheared, find out more about Gilbert’s Pit, listen to story time at the pond and much more. It’s free of charge and full of fun.

2025-01-31 09:30:47 +0000

Petition is successful with 11,507 signatures

2025-01-30 13:55:19 +0000

Dear supporters of Mary Wilson Animal Park,

Fantastic news from Greenwich Council - they have agreed to remove this budget cut and the park is safe for the next 4 years. In this time we need to establish this park as a firm community favourite across the borough, look at investment that could help rebuild the derelict areas, and investigate possible sponsorship with our ward councillors so that the park is not even seen as a quick saving ever again.

https://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/news/2025/council-comment-future-maryon-wilson-animal-park

https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/24897444.charltons-maryon-wilson-animal-park-remain-open-u-turn/

Thank you so much for signing and sharing - the council heard us roar - and they've given a stay for now.

Very best wishes,

Save Our Animal Park

2025-01-28 16:28:10 +0000

The full council meeting takes place tomorrow night, Wednesday 29th Jan at 7pm - the petition will be presented by our Ward Councillor. Thursday 30th is the Scrutiny Committee at 6.30pm where the park & the budget will be discussed. We've requested deputations to speak at both, that have been denied.

Join us outside Woolwich Town Hall from 6.30pm on Weds and 6pm on Thurs to show the councillors your support for saving Maryon Wilson Animal Park.

2025-01-27 07:55:10 +0000

10,000 signatures reached

2025-01-26 12:27:42 +0000

Join us this afternoon for the public meeting at St Thomas' Church, Woodland Terrace, SE7 8EW at 2.30pm to meet our Ward Councillors and show your support for this campaign.

2025-01-24 10:42:04 +0000

Please join us on Sunday 26th Jan, at St Thomas's Church, Woodland Terrace, SE7 8EW at 2.30pm to meet our Council Ward Councillors and show your support for this campaign.

2025-01-23 17:19:51 +0000

5,000 signatures reached

2025-01-22 17:16:54 +0000

1,000 signatures reached

2025-01-22 14:21:36 +0000

500 signatures reached

2025-01-22 12:06:03 +0000

100 signatures reached

2025-01-22 11:43:34 +0000

50 signatures reached

2025-01-22 11:28:13 +0000

25 signatures reached

2025-01-22 11:07:13 +0000

10 signatures reached