Crane Park is gearing up for a £400,000 facelift as work to improve the green space gets under way.

The park was one of 10 across London awarded the six-figure sum in the Mayor of London’s Help a London Park competition last year.

More than 300 people came forward with ideas for how to improve the park at a council-led consultation and work to make the changes will begin this month.

Councillor Virginia Morris, the council’s cabinet member for environment and planning, said: “I’ve been very impressed by the number and quality of suggestions people made.

“Now we know what people want, we can work with them to improve the park and make it a place which people will be able to continue enjoying well into the future.”

The £400,00 will be spent on opening up river views, making the entrances of the park more accessible and installing benches, picnic tables and signs.

New wildlife features, including an insect hotel to act as a winter habitat for many species, will be created and new hedges, wildflowers and bulbs planted.

London Mayor Boris Johnson said: “It is great news that the spade is going into the ground, to kick off the works that Crane Park really needs.”

A new children’s play area will also be created at the park, paid for by Government funding.

Richmond Liberal Democrats spokesman for environment Martin Elengorn said: “I'm delighted that the process we started last year has reached the next important stage and that the works are about to start.”

Artists and nature lovers are invited to an Environment Trust picnic at the park this weekend.

The event will be held at the Shot Tower, between 11am and 4pm, on Sunday.

Materials for sketching and drawing boards will be provided but people are welcome to bring their own equipment, along with their picnics.

The art picnic costs £20 per person and £40 for a family and places must be booked in advance by calling 020 8891 5455.