First professional female landscape designer honoured in new Southfields statue

Unveiled today (3 July), the statue completes the restoration of the long-dormant water fountain, bringing it back to life as a centrepiece for the gardens.

The new statue honours Fanny Wilkinson, the first professional female landscape designer in Britain. Fanny was responsible for the design and layout of more than 75 public gardens across London, including Coronation Gardens.

The statue was chosen through a design competition in partnership with the Putney School of Art and Design and has been professionally created following a community-led project with the Heritage of London Trust (HOLT), a charity dedicated to the restoration of historic buildings and monuments, Friends of Coronation Gardens, Enable and Wandsworth Council.

Coronations Gardens is a historic park in Southfields and has recently benefitted from large-scale improvements which included a repair of the water fountain and a renovated playground.

The renovations

The fountain was originally installed in 1904 and has now been restored thanks to partial funding from the council. A figurine above the bowl formed part of the original design and can be seen in photos from the early 1900s. It is this lost figure that Gillian Brett’s design aims to replace.

Paul White, Cabinet Member for Environment, said:

“By maintaining the heritage of this garden, we honour its past while making thoughtful improvements that allow it to serve the needs of today’s visitors. The statue is a wonderful addition to Coronation Gardens and a fitting tribute to Fanny Wilkinson’s legacy. This has been a fantastic community effort, and I want to congratulate Gillian on her beautiful design.

“The investment doesn’t stop here, we’re committed to continually improving and enhancing all of our parks across the borough, as we know our residents value meaningful, peaceful green spaces.”

This project was a collaboration with the Friends of Coronation Gardens group. Charles Runcie, chair of the Friends of Coronation Gardens, said:

“We’re thrilled we now have a centrepiece for the fountain, to complete its restoration. Who better for it to be than an image of Fanny Wilkinson, the ground-breaking garden designer, who laid out Coronation Gardens over a century ago and whose legacy we honour.”

Gillian Brett, artist and sculptor, said: “My figure is holding out a small plant, not only commemorating Fanny Wilkinson’s devotion to planning gardens, but also to symbolise the growing shoots of creativity. The repeating motif of olive branches around the bottom of her skirt, is a nod to the Friends of Coronation Gardens’ logo.”

About Coronation Gardens

Coronation Gardens dates back to 1902 and commemorates the coronation of King Edward VII in August 1902. It was donated to the people of Wandsworth by Sir William Lancaster, a businessman, philanthropist and politician who served as the second Mayor of Wandsworth between 1901 and 1902 and who also co-founded the Putney School of Art and Design.

Today, the gardens remain a much-loved green space in the heart of Southfields, valued for its peaceful atmosphere, community events, and connection to local heritage.

For more information please email parks@enablelc.org, or you can join the Friends of Coronation Gardens via their website.

Wandsworth Heritage Festival

Passionate about Wandsworth’s vast heritage? The Wandsworth Heritage Festival has returned for another year, bigger and better than ever as part of our year as London Borough of Culture 2025.

The festival ends 13 July, so there’s still time to soak up the history woven throughout our borough.

Find more about this year’s Wandsworth Heritage Festival, organised by the Wandsworth Heritage Service.