CAMPAIGNERS are desperate to raise money to recover the historic features of a “significant” park.

Jo Blackman, vice chairwoman of Friends of Wanstead Parklands, said a bid for £5 million would increase the public’s enjoyment of Wanstead Park.

The organisation is working with the City of London Corporation, which manages the park, to secure the funding from Heritage Lottery Fund.

However, John Cryer, Labour MP or Leyton and Wanstead, has organised Wanstead Park summit in the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday, November 22 to discuss delays about the bid.

Ms Blackman said: “The meeting is important because we are trying to get a commitment to secure much needed funds for the park. It would improve visitors’ experience and bring out the historic features of the park.

“It would also improve pathways, signage and visitors’ facilities. It’s historically significant but has become very overgrown and we have lost some of the historic features.”

Wanstead Park has been on Historic England’s at risk register since 2009.

Activists recently reported that problems with three of the four lakes in the park have improved and water levels have risen from six months ago when the main lake was dry.

A spokesman for the City of London Corporation said: “We aim to submit a Heritage Lottery Fund bid for Wanstead Park as soon as possible.

“We know from our experience with our last successful Epping Forest-wide Heritage Lottery Fund project, that we need time to prepare the bid properly with our partners and do everything possible to ensure it succeeds.

“We are awaiting an important decision from Government on the status of the park’s four Large Raised Reservoirs - and potential works that may be needed on them - and our bid can move forward when we have clarification on this.

“We are working hard to improve Wanstead Park, including remodelling entrances, opening paths, improving views around the ponds and Chalet Wood and repairing The Temple and safeguarding masonry from the Grade II listed Grotto.

The Guardian has approached John Cryer for comment.