In the course of our recent river clean-up opposite Brentside School, we experienced the full effects of FOG (fat, oil and grease) and understood something further about the role of dead vegetation in the river. Two sets of waders and a kayak were coated in a white, almost impossible-to-remove grease after being in the thick of it both near and in one case, in, a raft of assorted dead vegetation jammed up behind a fallen tree. The plastic litter we were after had accumulated on top of this raft and in order to access it, we had to break up the vegetation with rakes. This is when we released the hitherto-hidden FOG lurking there. So, the raft, which was between 2 foot and 5 foot in depth, was acting as a highly successful filter trap keeping the FOG in one manageable place. The question now is how the FOG should best be extracted from such a trap so that the vegetation can continue to act as a trap without getting entirely clogged up? Suggestions welcome! It also begs the question of how the FOG got into the river in the first place. Misconnections? The practice of pouring fat, oil and grease down the plughole in the kitchen sink, down the toilet and even directly into the river? How can we best educate/litigate to prevent these practices altogether? Again, all suggestions are welcome. One thing is sure: we need to stop FOG-tipping.
Floral meadow seeding, April 2019.
Today the central meadow is being prepared for a seeding later in the day. After that the rain dance(s) will need to be performed to ensure a spectacular display in July.
Future River Clean-Up Dates with the Gurnell-Greenford Greenwayers
Following the highly-successful clean-up on 14th April in and around the River Brent near Brentside High School, our next events will be taking place on:
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53 Bags of rubbish!
The Greenford to Gurnell Greenwayers had a fun day today, removing all sorts of rubbish from the River Brent. This included one large butane tank (at least 25 Kg), a modern rental bike which was lurking there and 53 bags of very smelly rubbish. This was a canoe job, dislodging items which had become trapped behind a fallen tree and for waders, who were downstream waiting to catch them. Others cleaned the banks. Photos of these heroes are below.
April actions.
A few events in the park this April. In the spring glade at the northern entrance, the snake’s head fritillaries have made their expected April appearance, with more are flowering every day now. Very nice close up!
Gurnell-Greenford Greenwayers April Event
The next clean-up on the River Brent is taking place this Sunday 14th April starting at 1pm. This event is suitable for all because it will consist of river bank litter-picking as well as in-channel work in waders to clear a large litter-berg which has built up behind a fallen tree. So, gentle tasks as well as challenging ones – chacun à son goût. But please don’t take the ‘goût’ too far – the water isn’t drinkable!
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Nearly-200-pocket-parks-will-help-transform-the-nation
It is not just Perivale Park that is getting some attention. The Government has just announced the winners of a national competition called “Pocket Parks”.
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The “Greenwayers” tidy up Costons Brook.
Costons Brook is one of two waterways in Perivale Park, being a tributary to the larger River Brent. It arises from perhaps three streams flowing from the north-west of the park, one apparently originating from the nearby Metropolitan business park. Tracing the others will require access to specialist maps! At any rate it flows out of a culvert near the children’s playground in the park, with an aspect that has recently become very much more accessible now that the blackthorn trees on each bank have been removed.
Early spring in the Park, 2019.
Its been a wet and windy spring so far. Here are some photos of the entrance to Perivale Park near to the South Greenford station/ A40 entrance.
A suggestion for planting a new tree species in the park …
Many new trees have been planted, or shortly will be planted in Perivale Park. Travelling in Morocco, we came across a very unusual species of tree and it struck me it would look really good to have one in the park. I think it would attract many new visitors!
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Gurnell-Greenford Greenwayers March Event
Ice skating anyone?
London now has a mild temperate climate, so the appearance of ice is relatively unusual. Here is the new pond in Perivale Park, nicely full from winter rains, with a thin covering of ice. Too thin of course for actual ice skating!
Ealing Parks Foundation Open Evening.
An open evening was held last Thursday 24th January 2019 to announce the Ealing Parks Foundation. Thanks to Ros Bryar for kindly sending this report of the meeting.
The Gurnell-Greenford Greenwayers
Perivale Park is blessed with two rivers. To the south runs the river Brent and in the south-west its tributary Costons Brook. Today I learnt about two recent events involving cleaning up these waterways. Richard Spencer-Smith sent me the following descriptions of the activities of the Gurnell-Greenford Greenwayers.
Perivale Park activity in January
The Greenford to Gurnell Greenway is well under way in the park. A new path is starting construction, heading off to a brand new bridge across the river Brent. This will help complete a circular pathway around the entire park, and no doubt encourage those quarter marathon runners (two circuits?).
A LIDAR map of Perivale Park.
LIDAR (light and RADAR map) is a 3D mapping technique that detects surface features which are not otherwise discernible from the ground. One of the Ealing park rangers (thanks James!) pointed me to this site; https://houseprices.io/lab/lidar/map?ref=TQ15148280 which provides a postcode based map of UK LIDAR data. Here it is for Perivale Park.
Trees for Cities Perivale Planting (+ double rainbow as a bonus).
Trees for Cities is a charity which mobilizes armies of volunteers to go plant trees. Today, it was the turn of Perivale Park, part of the new Greenford to Gurnell Greenway project.
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Sunrise in Perivale Park.
You obviously have to be up fairly early to see this aspect of the Park. Here is sunrise on the morning of November 14, 2018 at ~07.10 am.
Greenford to Gurnell Leisure Centre Greenway
I have previously mentioned this flagship plan by Ealing council for enhancing the Perivale Park area. Today the plan was published, along with an invitation for people to comment. I do urge anyone reading this to do so!
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First London National Park City Network Forum.
Next year the London National Park City launches in July. As a prelude, the first forum, or get together of some of the many organisations in London that promote it with the ethos of a national park took place on November 7th. Perivale Park was represented on this occasion by the RedGreen Group, a small local residents group which, with the participation of Ealing council, is in the process of enhancing the park with spring bulb and summer fruit plantings as an adjunct to the major Greenford to Gurnell Greenway scheme which is helping to transforming the area.
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Station walks (relaunched) from South Greenford station.
You can now plan your visit to Perivale Park by browsing the newly re-launched London National Park City station walks map. There are currently four walks starting from South Greenford (SG) station radiating out in the four compass directions.
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The Greenford-Gurnell Greenway starts to take shape.
Over the last week, a short stretch of Coston’s brook as it runs through Perivale Park has been transformed. The brook rises in the industrial estates north of the A40 in west Greenford and for its short course it emerges from culverts and then openly runs through the park before joining the river Brent close to Greenford Bridge. For much of the last 30 years or so, its course through the park has been lined with impenetrable blackthorn. Although these produce delightful blossom in the spring, the blackthorn was effectively blocking access to the brook.
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Perivale Park bulb planting, October 27th, 2018.
About 4500 bulbs‡ were planted in the north-west corner of the park yesterday. We were blessed with glorious sun, but rather foot-numbing temperatures. Despite this unanticipated coldness, we enjoyed delicious home-made lemonade provide by Jack, who also provided a fish&chip lunch for some of us.
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Botanic Gardens – 1452 to 1673.
Perivale Park: the orchard project starts!
One of the (several) projects under way in the park this autumn is the preparation of an orchard area, replacing the old bowling green.
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A survey of the plant ( + bee & spider) life in Perivale West Meadows.
The Greenford to Gurnell Greenway is a project to transform underused and disconnected green space along the river Brent in West London connecting Greenford town centre to Gurnell Leisure centre. It is one of six initiatives to improve green spaces as part of the London National Park City project.
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Greenford to Gurnell Greenway Project.
As part of the Greenford to Gurnell (swimming pool) project, a new Perivale Park woodland is to be planted running alongside a recently constructed path. You can vote for the trees and make other suggestions here or view the location and design. There will be a community planting on Sunday December 2nd.
Perivale Park bulb planting day, Saturday October 27th, 10AM-2PM.
Join us on Saturday 27th October, 2018 in planting four thousand bulbs near the entrance to Perivale Park. Funded by a community grant, we now need YOUR help to plant the bulbs!
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A new wetlands in Perivale Park
As part of the “re-wilding” of the park, the ground has been cleared and prepared for a new wetlands area. It will be watered naturally and during the expected wet winter months, the new pond – which has a shallow terrace and a deeper centre – will hopefully fill up with rainwater. The flora and hopefully fauna will then slowly follow.
Nicky Hopkins Memorial Bench in Perivale Park: the unveiling.
The opening of the Nicky Hopkins memorial bench took place in Perivale Park at noon today. Here are a few photos of the occasion (click on any image for higher resolution).
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