Community Celebration Day

Let’s Celebrate!

We made it! September 1st arrived, and with it, the culmination of 2 months of hard work: the table is complete, the ceramic creations are done, and we couldn’t be more proud.

The Harvesting Connections Long Table was officially opened, and we spent the day celebrating with the community in the most beautiful setting. The day highlighted the power of creativity, the joy of coming together, and the importance of reconnecting with nature.

Harvesting Connections at the Long Table

Throughout the day, the long table was bustling with energy—clay creators, picnickers, and curious visitors filled the seats. The table truly lived up to its name, becoming a symbol of the day's theme as people connected over shared meals, conversations, and laughter. All this, while basking in the surprise warmth of a sunny September afternoon.

Inspired by the co-design day on July 25th and the overwhelmingly positive feedback from the tile-making session, we knew we had to offer it again during the celebrations. And what an amazing turnout it was—over 80 tiles were created! We also introduced a new activity, the Clay Garden, which was essentially a table covered in clay where visitors could sculpt whatever came to mind, inspired by the beauty of the garden. These spontaneous creations became part of the collective art display, showcasing the community's imagination.

The leftover tiles from our co-design day, which didn’t make it into the final long table, found a new purpose in the garden. Rather than letting these beautiful, hand-crafted pieces go to waste, we decided to use them to create another unique piece of art using left over logs to make a frame the the tiles could hang within. This new artwork will be placed within the garden itself, where it can continue to tell the story of community collaboration and creativity. These tiles, each representing individual contributions from visitors, will now become part of the garden's living landscape, serving as a lasting symbol of connection, creativity, and the shared experience of those who took part in the co-design process. It will be a permanent reminder of the day’s spirit, visible to all who visit Chiswick House gardens.

More Activities to Enjoy

In addition to the clay and wood-focused activities, visitors had the chance to explore the Kitchen Gardens’ new Flower Trail and participate in a flower pounding session designed and led by Jaixia Blue. These activities offered a tactile and visual way to connect with the garden's beauty.

Meanwhile, local chef Manju delighted guests with cooking demonstrations and food tasting sessions, featuring garden-fresh produce. Every session was fully booked, and it was wonderful to see so many people enjoying the flavours and lessons from the kitchen.

A Positive Community Response

The response to "Harvesting Connections" was overwhelmingly positive. Visitors of all ages expressed their excitement and appreciation for the table and day’s activities, from the creative workshops to the chance to reconnect with nature. Families praised the scavenger hunt for being both fun and educational, while others enjoyed the communal experience of sharing meals and conversations around the long table. The clay tile-making session was a particular highlight, with participants thrilled to have a hands-on way to contribute their creativity to the celebration. We were delighted to see the table full, being used and enjoyed, this is not something Mark and I often get to see. The sense of togetherness that filled the air, as the event truly lived up to its goal of building connections within the community.

For those intrigued by the table itself and the craftsmanship behind it, we set up an information station. This featured a visual album documenting the process from start to finish, as well as offcuts from the wood used to build the table. We also organized a Tree Scavenger Hunt, encouraging visitors to explore the Chiswick House estate and locate the trees used in the table's construction.

Continue the Exploration and Creativity

Want to continue the adventure? You can download the Chiswick Gardens Tree Scavenger Hunt and Tile Making Instructions [here] and explore the Kitchen Garden and CHiswick House Estate’s natural beauty in a fun, interactive way. It’s a great way to learn more about the gardens while connecting with nature!

Bonus: Want more exclusive activities, event updates, and free downloads? Sign up for our newsletter here, and we’ll keep you in the loop on everything coming up!

A Day of Community, Creativity, and Connection

"Harvesting Connections" was so much more than just an event—it was a celebration of our relationship with the natural world and the strength of community. From the beauty of the gardens to the meaningful conversations and mindful creating around the long table, the day was filled with joy, discovery, and connection.

This day also marked the end of an intense three-month journey for Mark and me. It was truly a labor of love, but the final result was more than worth it. We hope that many connections continue to be "harvested" at this table in the years to come.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who participated and helped make this day so special. Whether you were creating with clay or flowers, joining a garden tour, or sharing a meal at the long table, you were part of something magical.

We’re excited to continue projects like this and can’t wait to see what grows in the months and years ahead.