Category Archives: Wildlife Area

Donald Macauley
Local Artist

Local Community, Queen's Park Gardens, Wildlife Area

Over the last few months, we have been very privileged to welcome local artist, Donald Macauley into the Wildlife Area as he has painted this wonderful view of the London Plane with the mound and Ilbert Street in the background.  The colours from my camera do not do this justice!

 

Donald grew up in East Anglia during the 1950s where the wild flowers among the corn, clouds of butterflies, and largely quiet, safe roads were his playground.

He has been painting since he was 16 and studied art at Reading University.  However, it is only in his early retirement, he has found the time to fully embrace his talent.

He has been living in the Queen’s Park estate since 1984 and we are lucky to have him among us.

 

Please take a look at Donald’s other work at his website here.
If anyone would like to exhibit his work locally,
do get in touch.

Halloween in the Wildlife Area!

Queen's Park Gardens, Wildlife Area

photo water bottle bug_zps0u3rtjbu.pngWe’re gardening this Spooky Saturday but we’re hoping to see some extra special bugs and critters in the Wildlife Area as it is Halloween. 

Come and help us find them hiding in the trees and bushes!

Our next Gardening Session will commence in the Wildlife Area at 10am on 31st Oct. More details here.

If you’re making pumpkin lanterns, don’t waste any food!  Check here for ideas.

 

Come along and lend a hand at any time, for as long as you like. We’ll be there until 1pm………….the critters might stay a while longer.
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Last Session of September

Local Community, Queen's Park Gardens, Wildlife Area

Freecycle is a wonderful resource. It put us in touch with someone who wanted to get rid of some top soil as he was completely restyling his neighbour’s garden, just over the canal.  He kindly delivered about ten bags to us.

We had to sift it carefully to get rid of all the stones and unwanted vegetation but we split ourselves into two teams so that the others could be getting as much grass out of the area in the meadow where we wanted to spread the soil.  Wildflowers thrive in poor quality soil but the end patches are full of stones where grass loves to grow and chokes some of the prettier flowers, if left unchecked.

On our way out of the park, we noticed a lot of cardboard packaging had been dumped in the general waste bin so we cleared the plastic and polystyrene elements back into that bin, then flattened the card and put it in the correct, recycling bin.

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Late Summer Chores

Wildlife Area

As the plants and flowers are dying off, it gives us a chance to tidy up and think about some of the more practical chores.

The wooden shuttering which borders the meadow as been rotting away over the last few years so with the welcome return of John, we were able to use some of the logs to reinstate it.

There was still a lot of weeding to do, to prepare the meadow for next summer.

We were thrilled to see a local resident arrive with his paints and easel.  One of the many relaxing things you can do in the Wildlife Area, if gardening seems too strenuous.

Ray took some great photos. My favourite is the mushroom.

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Summer’s End

Queen's Park Gardens, Wildlife Area

 

We’ve been very busy since the Summer Festival.

The Wildlife Area always gets full of domestic grass and more dominant weeds. There’s also a lot of bindweed in the Rose Garden and the triangular bed outside.

Removing the dead heads from roses gives them a chance for a second bloom so they’ve thrived this year. We’ve also weeded the circular shrub bed near the Third Avenue entrance.


A couple of donations of wood chip have been spread to help keep the weeds down and also make the paths better to walk on.


We’ve had to keep an eye on the roof terrace of the Grand Marigold Bug Hotel and netted the front so that any bugs nesting there will be safe and undisturbed.  We made the area around the hotel safer to walk on by levelling it with the wood chip.


The Willow Dome needs trimming & weaving each year so we got the ladder & ties out.

In the Wildlife Meadow this year, we had some fantastic teasels. Did you see them?  The Echinacea, planted in the side bed last year, multiplied and gave us many wonderful blooms.

We spent some time clearing the weeds from the awkward bank near the boundary hedge. The ground drops away quite sharply there so many of our original plants did not survive. We were kindly given some lovely specimens from the Head Gardener at the Royal College of Physicians which we planted during our last session.

September is also the time for us to let the Wildlife Meadow return to seed.  The park attendants let us use their strimmer last session and the Head Gardener of the Royal College of Physicians gave us some more lovely plants to put in the bank by the hedge.

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The Wildlife Area – opening times

Queen's Park Gardens, Wildlife Area

 

The Wildlife Area in Queen’s Park Gardens will now be open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays. It’s a great area for children and adults alike.

 

 

Please do come and enjoy the peace and greenery, and visit our new bug hotel. For the comfort of others, we ask that no dogs are brought into this area.

The area is also available free of charge for community groups during the week. Contact us for more information and booking.

Volunteers are always welcome to come and help. Check the side-bar for dates.

Come for as little or as long as you like and receive time credits in exchange for your work. There’s more information here.

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Wildlife Area Weekend Opening

Wildlife Area

 

The Wildlife Area in Queen’s Park Gardens will now be open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays. It’s a great area for children and adults alike.

 

 

Please do come and enjoy the peace and greenery, and visit our new bug hotel. For the comfort of others, we ask that no dogs are brought into this area.

The area is also available free of charge for community groups during the week. Contact us for more information and booking.

Volunteers are always welcome to come and help. Check the side-bar for dates. Our next session is on Saturday 31st October between 10am and 1pm.

Come for as little or as long as you like and receive time credits in exchange for your work. There’s more information here.

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Recital for Iraqi Christians in Need

Wildlife Area

St John the Evangelist is a beautiful setting  to enjoy music and the acoustics are marvellous.

St John’s will be hosting a recital for Iraqi Christians in Need (ICIN) on

Saturday 5th September at 6 pm.

The evening will feature Carl Bahoshy performing a varied programme, including works by Chopin, Debussy and Rachmaninoff.

Admission is free but a collection will be made.

For more information about Iraqi Christians In Need, please click here.

Spending Time Credits – Local Favourites

Allotments, Local Community, Open Spaces, Queen's Park Gardens, Time Credits, Wildlife Area

By volunteering in your community, with us in the Wildlife Area for instance, you can earn Time Credits to spend in a variety of outlets.  We give one Time Credit for every hour volunteered. They’re like community bank notes and there’s something for everyone. Here are some of the local favourites:

Lexi Cinema in Chamberlayne Road: Despite being a charity organisation, run by volunteers themselves, they are happy to accept two Time Credits for a seat when they’re not busy.  Email Ted with your preferred date(s) and he’ll confirm within a couple of days.  If the date you fancy is a busy one, they’ll suggest another. It’s a fabulous place to see some of the best films on release.

Fierce Grace Hot Yoga in Kilburn Lane: Fierce Grace is a new yoga system, and brand. They led the UK in the Hot Yoga revolution, by bringing Bikram Yoga to London in 1994. Fierce Grace yoga takes place in a specifically heated room to ease muscles, prevent injury and promote detoxification.  Available Mon & Wed at 6.45am, 10am, 12pm & 5pm and on Tues & Fri 8am, 10am & 4pm. Just email in advance if you’ve never been before, their friendly staff will be happy to help. Two Time Credits for a place at a 90 minute yoga class + chill out session in relaxation area.

Queen Park Library on Harrow Road:  A lively library offering children’s clubs, reading groups and employment advice, as well as a huge range of adult and children’s book, CDs and DVDs. Rent that blockbuster you missed at the cinema or spend a night in with the kids and watch the latest Pixar movie!  You need to be a member of the library to use Time Credits but it’s free to join – just take proof of address when you go along.  Spend one Time Credit for a CD and two for a DVD (including a whole boxed set!).

Tennis in Queen’s Park: 1 hour tennis court hire for One Time Credit (Mon-Fri) at Pitch & Putt grounds. This  offer excludes school holidays

Meeting Space Hire at Genesis Housing at 576 Harrow Road: Meeting space is available in Genesis Housing’s Neighbourhood Centre in North Westminster, suitable for groups of up to 15 for meetings or activities such as craft, or reading groups. For hire on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Please contact Richard to book your time 020 8968 5543 at One Time Credit per hour.

Portobello Green Fitness Centre:  One gym session for One Time Credit (Fri 2-4pm).

Ladies Only exercise classes at The Beethoven Centre, Third Avenue, W10. for Two Time Credits per class:
Total body workout (circuits) – Tue. 9.20-10.05am
Legs, Bums & Tums Fri 9.20-10.05am

All Stars Boxing Gym on Harrow Road: All Stars Boxing Gym is a local landmark, established nearly 40 years ago and offering training and exercise to the community ever since. Suitable for all ages and abilities, give it a try!  Contact Raman Akay at All Stars Gym directly if you are already a member. If you’re interested in becoming a member or using your Time Credits at All Stars Boxing Gym, contact Sami. Two Time Credits entitles you to a “Knock Out” session.

QPR Stadium Tour in White City:  Stadium tours are offered to Members for QPR’s Loftus Rd ground at the cost of one Time Credit per person. Contact Sami to check dates.

Maida Hill Second-Hand Community Market pitch. Looking to clear out some bric-a-brac and de-clutter? Tuesday is Maida Hill markets community day and for a four hour pitch you can pay with Four Time Credits.To register as stall holder and to book a table call Jacqui 07582 881 591. Once booked in you are asked to set up from 10am. Good luck with your selling!

The Frontline Club in Paddington: The events programme is run by the Frontline Charitable Trust, set up to promote independent journalism and provide training in the safety of journalists and other media workers in areas of conflict. Frontline Club are pleased to be offer all of the public events (talks and screenings) to Time Credit holders, wherever capacity permits. All you need to do is call up to book. Just say that you’re wanting to use your Time Credits. You will spend one Time Credit per hour, depending on the length of the event.


Finally, check back for news of offers at The Jubilee Sports Centre (and other Better venues).

This is just a sample of everything available in London. Download the current Time Credits Brochure here (Right Click/Save) where you will also learn more about opportunities to earn credits. Furthermore, you can spend your Time Credits in other parts of the country. Check the Just Add Spice website for more information.

Other Time Credit Spending Opportunity Summaries:
Places to Visit
Entertainment
Activities

Entertainment and other activities summaries to follow over the next two Thursdays.

Other Lives of our Park Users

Wildlife Area

We are all familiar with the sight of Crissie Chambers in the Dog Walking Area. She has boundless energy to instruct and inform dog owners in the neighbourhood but did you know she has another life as Lady C, Roots ‘n’ Reggae  Vinyl DJ?

When Kilburn to Kensal Radio hands over to Portobello Radio on a Friday lunchtime, you might just catch her one time.  She’s actually joining Greg Weir today!

Another face you may have seen around the community is that of Simon Walton.  He has certainly been our poster-boy on several occasions.

He is also very active with the Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. Last month, he joined Chairman Sue Price and Kensington Gardens Manager Andy Williams who invited new Royal Parks Chief Executive Andrew Scattergood for a swim in the Serpentine.