The levy on households near Wimbledon Common and Putney Heath goes up by £1.29 (3.22%) next month, to £41.38 a year for a Band D property. That is in line with RPI. The chairman of the body that manages the Commons says it still isn’t enough.
“Like many charities, we face rising day-to-day costs and the gap between the levy income and the cost of managing the Commons continues to increase,” said Mauro Mattiuzzo, chairman of the Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators (WPCC). “We are developing additional income streams to help fund major infrastructure projects, such as path repairs.”
The rise is the latest in a series applied at the maximum permitted rate under a board commitment first made in December 2020 and reaffirmed in February 2024. It follows 2.7% in 2025/26 and 8.9% in 2024/25, the latter of which triggered objections from Wandsworth and Merton councils.
Fundraising is bridging the gap
With the levy stretched, the Conservators have been building other income streams. A Christmas fundraising drive through the Big Give platform raised £16,861.69 net including Gift Aid for path restoration on Putney Heath, hitting its target within 36 hours of launch. Bench and car park donations brought total voluntary income from April to December 2025 to £66,384. The Conservators have also recently taken delivery of a new electric all-terrain vehicle (ATV), a four-wheeled workhorse rangers use to reach remote parts of the Commons for maintenance, conservation work, and emergencies.
The community has shown a similar willingness to plug gaps. Last summer, lightning struck the Wimbledon Windmill and damaged its sail; more than £21,000 was raised in 18 days to repair it. The previous year’s wetlands fundraising raised £10,500 for a specialist hydrology study. The Queensmere pond restoration is also now under way.
The Conservators employ 23 staff to manage 1,140 acres of common land. The levy is their largest single income source: the total raised across all households in the charging area rises from £1,666,382 to £1,741,425 next month, an increase of £75,043.
How the Commons measure up environmentally
A carbon audit completed in early 2026 by Savills found that the 1,140 acres of Wimbledon Common, Putney Heath, and Putney Lower Common store around 1,800 tonnes more CO2 than they produce each year. WPCC ranks in the lowest 20% for operational emissions per hectare among comparable organisations. The biggest single source of emissions is holly clearance bonfires, at 42% of the operational total.
Wimbledon Common was named London Common of the Year 2024, and both Wimbledon Common and Putney Lower Common received London in Bloom Gold Awards last year.
Who pays
The levy is a precept on council tax, collected under the Wimbledon and Putney Commons Act 1871. It applies to households within three-quarters of a mile of the Commons and properties in the historic Parish of Putney. All council tax exemptions apply: if you don’t pay council tax, you don’t pay the levy.
No action needed: it is collected automatically. To support the Commons beyond the levy, visit wpcc.org.uk.
