Vasilisa Ermakova, who lives in the building where the grapefruit trees are located, wanted to ensure they remained as a memorial to her friend. Photograph: Martin Godwin/The Guardian
Two remarkable grapefruit trees in south-west London, planted over four decades ago by a Grenadian woman with deep roots in her community, now have official protection, securing their place as a symbol of heritage, friendship, and Caribbean resilience.
From Grenada to Battersea: The Story of the Gift from Grenada Grapefruit Trees
In the early 1980s, Marline Anderson brought two young grapefruit trees from her homeland of Grenada to her home in Battersea. She planted them side-by-side in her front garden, creating an unexpected splash of the tropics on a London street. Over the years, they grew tall, bore fruit year-round, and drew curiosity from neighbours and passersby.
A plaque outside her former home reads:
“A gift from her homeland, Grenada. It bears fruit year-round, her essence lives on in its roots.”
It also carries a gentle request in Marline’s own words:
“Kindly refrain from picking fruit from the tree. You are welcome to gather what nature has let fall.”
Community Unites to Save Gift from Grenada Grapefruit Trees
From left: Councillor Kemi Akinola, Lior Berman and Vasilisa Ermakova in front of the grapefruit treeS planted by Marline Anderson. Photograph: Martin Godwin/The Guardian
After Marline’s recent passing, friends and neighbours feared the council might remove the trees. They rallied together to save them, not just for their beauty, but as a living tribute to a woman who gave so much to her community.
Neighbour and friend Vasilisa Ermakova said the campaign was as much about preserving Marline’s memory as protecting the trees themselves:
“It’s almost like she will live forever in my eyes.”
More Than Fruit: A Caribbean Connection in London
Local chef and campaigner Lior Berman has used the grapefruit to make a distinctive marmalade for her business, as well as herbal teas from the leaves. For her, the trees represent the rare joy of having a mature, fruit-bearing tree in the middle of the city.
“When you have something that healthy and special in an urban space, you protect it,” she explained. “These small pieces of nature help people feel grounded and connected.”
Victory for Heritage and the Windrush Story
The campaign reached a turning point when Wandsworth Council’s deputy leader, Kemi Akinola, visited the property to announce an interim protection order for the grapefruit trees. This means any attempt to remove them would carry legal consequences. Akinola emphasised their importance as part of the area’s cultural heritage:
“We’re trying to record the history of our Windrush generation. Once they go, the stories go and small pieces of heritage like these trees are part of that story.”
A Bittersweet Victory for Friends and Family
While the news was met with joy, there was an undercurrent of sadness that Marline herself wasn’t here to see the victory. Ermakova described her as the heartbeat of the street, a woman whose kindness extended far beyond her immediate family.
Marline Anderson Photograph: Vasilisa Ermakova
“She probably had about 20 children, because everyone called her ‘Mum’.”
Though the order is currently temporary and awaiting final approval, the community is confident the protection will be made permanent. For friends and family, the hope is that in decades to come, they will still be able to stand under those same branches and remember the woman who planted them with love.
“If we can drive down here in 50 years and see the tree, that will be quite phenomenal,” Ermakova said.
