It doesn't seem to be a rumour; much of the gardens are closed now. The staff said the same thing to me in that most of it would be out of action until the autumn. What appears not to have been factored in is the closing off of the top areas due to health and safety in relation to construction traffic. These areas are not within the work area. People entering through the Horniman Drive area will have to compete with that construction traffic.

I agree that the information that most of us were given is that the gardens will be operational throughout however the only area that will be open will be the lower grounds leading off the Horniman Drive entrance and the grassed area immediatly around the museum.

I am not one of those people who welcomed these works in the first place as I felt it was all about the short term building careers for staff rather than really adding to the long term betterment of the gardens and adding value to the overall educational value of the museum.
After the jerk cookout fiasco I remain of the opinion that the Horniman cannot really care less about its local community. They must know by now that what they have been telling that community has been misleading but seem to be making no effort to discuss it.
Complain away, some of us might join you.