Reconnecting Boston Manor Park

Activities, events and volunteering opportunities at Boston Manor Park

 

Spring 2024 Events (March, April, May) in Boston Manor Park

Please note more events may be added and to receive an updated monthly newsletter please join our mailing list by emailing bostonmanorpark@hounslow.gov.uk

 

Further park improvements!

Play area: we are thrilled to announce that several play areas near Hub will be refurbished in March. Sensory play items, replacement swings and a new zip wire will be some of the new highlights! Unfortunately, the play areas will have to be closed from 4 March to keep everyone safe during the works, which will hopefully be completed by early April. We will aim to keep the metal fitness equipment (on the ‘green’) and wooden gym equipment (next to the playground) open for use throughout the works.

Changing Room toilets: Sadly, due to the extensive vandalism in the changing room block, these toilets will remain closed to the public for the foreseeable future.

Treating toxic invasive plant species: Please keep an eye out for any notices about treatment of non-native invasive species. The Park Manager Vanessa will be treating/removing plants as early as possible with help from LB Hounslow’s Countryside colleagues, gardening volunteers and local charity CURB (see public event below), but please ensure you and your children do not approach any areas in the wider park that have been cordoned off/where notices have been erected.

Park interpretation: You may see information boards begin to appear across the park over coming months- we hope you enjoy reading them and learning about the park’s history and its wildlife.

Major Spring events in the park

Boston Manor Park’s 3rd Arts and Crafts Market Saturday, 27 April 2024, 11am-5pm: Under the M4 flyover, local artists will be selling their beautiful crafts. Operated by Fashion Meets Music.

Our annual Nature Festival: Save the date – Saturday, 1 June, 12-4pm: Exhibitors will all be nature, craft and conservation related, with our very popular Bedfont Lakes Team Zoo back again. You wouldn’t want to miss it!

Toddler activities:

Toddler Woodland Adventure Club, Tuesdays 30 April, 7, 14, 21 May, 10.30am-11.45am: Come and explore the Park habitats and wildlife with Tash. Sheltered/indoor spaces available and activities will take place both inside and outside. Meet by Hub. £20 per child over 2yrs (accompanying younger siblings are free) for 4 sessions. Limited numbers. Please email bostonmanorpark@hounslow.gov.uk to book on to the club (payment is for 4 sessions in advance).

Nature, Wellbeing and Art activities (ALL FREE):

Monthly Bird Walk and Survey, Saturdays 2 March, 6 April, 4 May, 8.30-10am: Meet on the lake platform. Take a leisurely walk around the park to record numbers and species of birds in the park. No experience necessary but bring binoculars if you have them.

Amphibian Rescue event, Sat 2 March, 1-2.30pm: Come and discover how a Chiswick based community group of volunteers have saved thousands of frogs, toads and newts from certain death over the last few years. Expect to hear information about the project, amphibian life cycles, how you can help and to be able to get up close to live amphibians. Meet outside walled garden. All ages welcome.

Great British Spring Clean Litter Pick with local award-winning community organisation LAGER CAN, Sat 16 March 10.30-12.30pm: Meet by Hub, we will provide all the resources you need and there will be rewards from our café for those that participate!

Evening Bat Walks, Tues 2 Apr at 7.40pm and Thurs 9 May at 8.40pm: Come and spot our resident bats using bat detectors! Meet by picnic tables by lake.

Help our Hounslow and Ealing Hedgehogs! Sat 6 April, 2-3.30pm, meet by Hub: Wild Chiswick and Ealing Wildlife Group will be providing information all about their projects and how you can help local hedgehogs. Hibernaculum building, storytelling, crafting with clay and even a real native hedgehog- an event for all the family, whether you live in Ealing or Hounslow - let’s create one big wildlife corridor!

Plant Sale and Seed Swap, Sat 6 April, 11am-1pm, near walled garden: Come and pick up some bargains and swap seeds you don’t need. Horticultural advice will be available too.

Launch of our New Audio Trail, Sat 13 April, 2-3pm: With help from local artist Giovanna Iorio we have created a beautiful, mindful audio trail around the Park (think poetry, bird song, music). We will lead you around the route using a speaker so all ages can enjoy and experience it even without a phone or headphones. It will be available to download for personal use too. Starts by Hub.

Clean Up the River Brent with Ben Morris and CURB, Sat 20 April, 10-1pm: Come and clear some invasive plants, plant up some reeds or just litter pick our waterways- this event will be based in or near water some come prepared in wellies if possible. All health and safety equipment and other resources will be provided. Meet by Hub at 10am.

Join our Joys of Spring Walk, Sat 20 April, 2-3pm: meet by Hub for a tour with the park manager Vanessa. We’ll discover the signs of spring in the park and learn about flowers, trees and wildlife that come into their own in this vibrant season.

Discover Butterflies and Moths in the Wildflower Meadow, Sat 18 May, 2-3pm: Meet outside walled garden. Come on a guided walk with experts Barbara Mulligan and friends, to spot, catch, release and identify our precious flying pollinators - all ages welcome.

Mindful & Sensory Event aimed at people with dementia or cognitive decline, Thurs 23 May, 12-1pm: Meet by Hub. You’ll be using all your senses during this guided activity to experience and enjoy the natural surroundings, along with some gentle, mindful movement.

Play session for SEND children and young adults, Wed 29 May, 2-3pm: the play area will be available exclusively to SEND children and young adults (up to 25 yrs) during this hour. Parents with SEND children are encouraged to visit during this time. Park staff will be available, and indoor facilities will be open as safe breakout spaces (education room and accessible toilet). Other park users are asked to be understanding and welcoming.

Fitness Activities:

Fitness Fun with Jenny, EVERY Tuesday 11-11.45am: Low impact outdoors exercise class generally in walled garden for adults of all ages and fitness levels. Indoor option available if necessary. Meet outside Hub. (£3 per participant).

Basketball Easter holiday camp with SUPA, Tues 2, Wed 3, Thurs 4 April, 10-11am, 6-12 yrs, meet by basketball courts: Mario from local basketball club SUPA will be running the club. Email us to book on to any or all days. Numbers limited. (£3 per participant per session).

Yoga Taster (and 4 week course) with Hazel , Thurs 11 April 2-3pm: Experience yoga in the park (or in Hub if weather is not good enough). Meet at Hub. Bring a mat. Yoga classes (indoor/outdoor) with Hazel will start on Weds 1,8,15 and 22 May (11am). Email us to book on to the course as places limited. (£6 per class, or payment in advance for 4 classes £20.) Taster session is FREE but please email to book your place on taster and/or course.

Guided 5k Run with Tom Kerry and We Run Ealing around the park, Sat 4 May, 10.15am: Come for a guided jog around the park on our new Strava trail, all ages welcome. Starts at Hub (FREE).

Learning or Improving your Cycling Skills, for adults only & bike maintenance for all with Dr Bike: Sat 4 May, 1-3pm: meet outside walled garden. 1-1.45pm: Beginners session, for those new to cycling or haven’t cycled for a long time. Learn cycling skills in a safe environment. Bikes and helmet provided. 2-3pm: Improvers session, for those wishing to improve their skills and build confidence, includes cycling on roads. Bikes available or you can bring your own. 1-3pm Dr Bike Bring your (adult or kids) bike along for free maintenance and advice. (ALL FREE but email bostonmanorpark@hounslow.gov.uk to book your place on the cycling sessions).

Easter Holiday events for children and families: 

Street Dance taster session with Nick from The Performing Arts Company for Kids, Tues 2 April 3-3.45pm in Hub, 6-12 yrs: drop in but numbers limited (FREE). Email thepack_dance@outlook.com for information about Nick’s musical theatre holiday camp 1-4 April, 4-6pm in Hub. 

Holiday Club (6-12 year olds) with Tash, Wed 3 and Thurs 4 April, 9am-1pm: Email bostonmanorpark@hounslow.gov.uk to book a place (limited numbers). Children can expect fun outdoor and indoor physical, forest school, nature based and crafty activities. All park facilities will be available (including table tennis and 1 hour SUPA basketball coaching). Food not included. £30 per child per day (or £25 per child per day if you book multiple days). Payment in advance and completion of registration form is required to secure a place.

Canoeing Club (8yrs up, including adults) with Active 360, Wed 10 April 10-11 and 11-12: email us bostonmanorpark@hounslow.gov.uk to book onto 55mins of canoeing up and down the canal at the bottom of the park. We will allocate you a session. Joining instructions to follow (starts and ends at canal bridge). Places limited. £12 per participant in advance to secure place 

Gardening and Conservation activities (all FREE except Growing for wellbeing workshop):

Saturday Gardening and Conservation Session, Sat 2 March and Sat 18 May 10.30-12.30pm: Meet outside the Service yard/ walled garden. Join Vanessa and carry out a variety of gardening and conservation tasks around the park. Call Vanessa if you can’t find the group 07816 067883.

Weekly Gardening and Conservation Sessions, every Tuesday, 10-12.30pm: Meet outside the Service yard/ walled garden. Join Vanessa and carry out a variety of gardening and conservation tasks around the park.

Weekly Walled Garden and Veg Growing sessions, starting Thurs 14 March, (and every Thurs through to Sept), 1-2.30pm: Meet out outside the service yard/ walled garden. A

gentle-paced plant care and maintenance session, along with growing vegetables in an accessible space.

Youth Volunteering (14 yrs up), Saturdays 2, 16 March, 20 April, 18 May 10.30am-12.30pm, and Sat 1 June 10.30-12.30pm and 4-5pm (to assist with park event): Volunteering specifically for young people (14–18-year-olds) with regular sessions for teenagers looking to meet the D of E award 'Volunteering' requirement and all teenagers wanting to volunteer. Meet promptly by the Park Hub. Activities could include conservation, gardening and helping run family events/holiday clubs (at other times). Email Tash in advance if you are interested: bostonmanorpark@hounslow.gov.uk 

Growing for Wellbeing workshop, Sunday 19 May, 10-1pm: In our 3 hour hands-on workshop you will learn about what to grow and forage for your mental and physical wellbeing. Participants will be introduced to specific herbs, wildflowers, trees, fruit and vegetables that are easy and cheap to grow or readily available in all green spaces. Expect exploring, planting and eating/drinking activities. £10 per participant – or £3 if you claim benefits. Places limited. Email bostonmanorpark@hounslow.gov.uk to book your place. Joining instructions on booking. 

Self-guided BMP Trails:

Go Orienteering Trails

Can you find all the markers (‘controls’) hidden around the park? Learn how to navigate and then find and follow three different (easy, medium and hard) orienteering routes around the park. Download the free orienteering maps here.

Strava Running Club

Boston Manor Park’s own running club and running routes (co-created with WE RUN EALING, community based running organisation).

BMP Activity Trails 1 (Nature and Wellbeing) and 2 (Get to know the park!)

Pick up a free hard copy of our two trails from outside the Hub, the Potting Shed café or Boston Manor House. Download free copies in English and Polish here.

Secret Bird Mosaic Trail

Can you spot our bird mosaics hanging in the woodland (path starting near the lake)? You will see a jay, a woodpecker, a chaffinch and a robin. Mosaics were made by the community and Susie John, a local artist.

BMP Audio Trail: coming soon and launching on 13 April 2pm (see Nature and Wellbeing events)

Corporate volunteering: we’d love to host your team!

We offer bespoke opportunities for teams to spend a day (or a few hours) in the park, working on fun conservation and gardening projects. The day can also include a range of activities such as guided foraging/wildlife walks around the park. Lunch options available from our café and indoor spaces accessible to store personal items and take a break. A donation may be required towards purchasing park resources. Email us to discuss options: bostonmanorpark@hounslow.gov.uk

Park Hub:

Our new café The Potting Shed is now open 7 days a week, 9-5pm (food 9-3pm). Watch out for their events too. Earthical stock, selling refills of eco-friendly laundry and cleaning supplies now also available from the café!

Boston Manor House:

Dr Angus Vine will be talking about the House’s historic library on 22 February and Dr Claire Gapper on 14th March will be sharing her expertise on our majestic Jacobean plasterwork.

Claire Ireland’s ‘Brentford Spoon’ project exhibition is running from 28th March – 8th September 2024. Alongside this exhibition, there are family craft workshops on 7th April, 6th May and 2nd June.

The House will be running Easter art and craft on Saturday 30th March.

Free community walks run every fortnight on a Friday, 11-12pm and the next Boston Manor House to Osterley walk will be on Saturday, 2 March at 11am.

The House’s Thursday Toddler Group will be exploring the House every week from 10-11am, plus there are free live interpretation tours of the House on Saturdays at 1 and 3pm.

Visit the Eventbrite page for tickets.

Events and activities 

Boston Manor Park offers an exciting range of events and activities for all the family. Covering a wide variety of subjects and themes, whether you’re interested in exploring nature, creativity, fitness, wellbeing, arts, and much more, come on down to Brentford’s green gem this summer. 

You can receive monthly events updates by emailing us at bostonmanorpark@hounslow.gov.uk – or visit our events page for a full itinerary.  

Facebook page: @BMPoutdoorevents 

Natural Park Manager: Vanessa Hampton via email BostonManorPark@hounslow.gov.uk  07816 067883. 

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