I too have misgivings about the new Education Centre taking up green space. However, I can report that the Horniman say it is necessary in order to enable children to move between outdoor and indoor environments where they can undertake 'messy' activities involving natural specimens. Apparently this cannot happen in the main museum building because of the need to quarantine anything brought in to avoid risk of infection / damage in the museum's collections. Seems like a reasonable argument and if it enables more use to be made of the gardens for educational purposes then that has to be a good thing.

A substantial part of the big green area below the bandstand - the main area - has been fenced off and grass removed. It looks like they're going to build something there.

If this is really so, I take back everything I said before about trusting the Horniman to do the right thing, and am with seeformiles and roz. You can't build on that area of green. There are plenty of educational buildings etc on the top part. That lower part of the park should be left in peace. Children need green space to run around in quite as much, if not more, than being crammed full of education every time they breathe in.

Perhaps they're re-turfing it or something? One can but hope.

I was also confused by that work as there was nothing on the planning application. However, I found out on Facebook that they are actually installing a ground source heat pump.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1...774&type=1

Many thanks for the link and info, Michael. What a relief.

Cheers Michael, must say you do know your facts about SE23

With the official reopening of the gardens next week, there is an article in today's Observer singing the praises of the museum:

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2012/m...ion-review

Spent some time in the Gardens this weekend and it is looking lovely. Looking forward even more to being able to wander around some of the bits that are currently fenced off.

It looks like a good make-over should - keeps its identity but just looks a bit smarter.

Yikes, having just read in that otherwise excellent article that one of the fenced off areas is a musical garden, I'm wondering just how peaceful lazy Sundays in the Gardnens will be from next week. Might have to consider taking headphones just in case!

Took my visiting American family to the Hornimans this weekend and was also impressed with the transformation. Echoing the sentiment expressed here, that the museum and grounds represent a serious 'jewel in the crown' in FH living. I cannot imagine a finer place to visit within walking distance, when the sun shines it is stunning. Best feature - the new information around the grounds explaining the vista and the ground that we stand on. Go and have a read at the bandstand, you will be surprised!

Quite agree. Walked through on Saturday and was impressed by the changes and the quality of the design that has gone into the project.

Sadly, the musical garden was still roped off so I couldn't try it out, but it looks great.

Great photos from Horniman Gardens
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a...774&type=1

Where is the best place in London to have a picnic?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/in-...ondon.html

The final piece of work has been completed on the minor transformation of Horniman Gardens.... You can now walk through the animal enclosure.