One of the main discussion points for the Heritage Group, is, what did Wimbledon Park originally look like?  We know that Capability Brown drained the swampy land, and used the water to form the lake as it is today.  Landscaping was also employed in creating a great swathe of green.  The planting of oaks was on the agenda, and many of these ancient trees still populate the park.  The sight lines would have run roughly South to North by North East, as Earl Spencer's house was located pretty near the most southern limit of the park on the ridge, which is now St. Mary's Road.

Re-creating the park as it was is now not an option, but we can keep in mind the essential openness of the park and criticise changes that have worked against the original plan.

It is normal to identify property boundaries by planting trees and shrubs along the boundaries.  The park today is essentially ringed by tall-growing vegetation.  Part of this is nature at work, where birds sat on a fence and deposited the seed that escaped the beak.  In other instances this was intentional planting.  It is amazing how fifty years can slip by and very substantial screening is the result.

Today, in order to view the park along the Home Park Road, regular cutting back of growth around the established viewing areas is something the Golf Club has put forward. It is a fair amount of effort to achieve and is a continuing task.

The Wimbledon Club now has lost most of its ground-level views to both the north and the south due to boundary trees and shrubs.  Also along the edge of the lake on the west side, there is very heavy growth which the Club is considering pruning back, so that their members may more easily enjoy the lake and the public may enjoy the view across the Club's grounds.