Reconnecting Boston Manor Park

September and October 2025

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

Park team in post for another year... but with strings attached!

As you may be aware, the three-year National Heritage Lottery funded activity programme comes to an end this August. From September 2025, we will continue to work with the London Borough of Hounslow, The Arts Centre and Boston Manor House, to secure and generate additional funds to enable us to continue to care for and maintain the park, provide volunteering opportunities and run events/ school and SEND workshops in the park for another year. Our focus needs to be on income generation and making activities cost neutral if we are to remain in post in the longer term. Please support us by attending events, and telling friends, schools, teachers, parents, corporate and scout groups about what we can offer!

BMP School Workshop Programme 2025/26 and SEND Work Experience and Workshop 2025/26 programmeon the BMP visit us page and new joint BMP/BMH workshop on the BMP schools page.

Know a scout group?

Night walks, bat detecting and evening exploration/orienteering sessions with Tash available (£3 per scout). Sessions can be run for Polish, French or English scouts from 6yrs up.

Evaluation of the HLF project

LBH will provide an end of project report to the funders about the impact of the Boston Manor Park restoration project – this document will be vital in supporting future funding bids to maintain activities delivery in the park. You will find the (Visitor and Volunteer) surveys on the BMP Let's Talk Hounslow page and QR codes around the park which take you to the survey page. Survey submissions close at the end of August. After 31 Aug 2025, no feedback will be taken on board.

NEW SPACES TO RENT AT BMP: Classroom, Workshop and Woodland

As part of helping the park to become financially sustainable, we are hiring out the Education room, Workshop space (by the Service Yard) and the enclosed Woodland play area (by Boston Manor House) for very modest rates during Mondays-Thursdays 9am-4pm only – outside of these hours, bookings (and fees) are taken by the Potting Shed cafe. These spaces are perfect for exercise classes, holiday clubs, arts and crafts classes, birthday parties, group meet-ups. If you would like more information about costs/ availability or to book any spaces, please email bostonmanorpark@hounslow.gov.uk for the information pack putting ‘BMP space hire’ in the subject line.

Upcoming events

1. Bat Walk with detectors 28 Aug, 8pm, meet by picnic tables outside Boston Manor House.
2. Assemble Play, 25-31 Aug: free drop-in play sessions near House for all ages. More info on www.bostonmanorhouse.org.
3. Brentford Festival, 7 Sep: Organised by Boston Manor Park’s own formidable Linda Massey for over 20 years, this will sadly be the final festival. It’s in Blondin Park, across the road, but we had to let you all know about it!
4. Ealing BEAT Art trail, 6/7 and 13/14 Sep: admire and purchase art made by local artists (Service Yard area)
5. Family Fun day in Boston Manor Park, 27 Sep, 12-3pm: an afternoon filled with fun for the whole family- activities, raffle, music and more!
6. Dracula by The Arts Centre in Boston Manor House, 15 Oct - 2 Nov! Book tickets for all TAC shows.

Nature and wellbeing

Monthly Bird Walk and Survey, Sat 6 Sep and 4 Oct, 08.30-10am

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. FREE.

Every Saturday, Chess group meet ups, 12-4pm, meet by picnic tables by Hub:

A drop-in event for anyone who wants to learn or play. All ages welcome, any level fine. Run by Alex Smythe who runs a welcoming social local chess group that plays regularly in BMP. Contact Alex for any info alexander.brentford@gmail.com. Book your ticket on Meetup.com. FREE.

Adult Cycle Training for adults who live, work or study in Hounslow

Every Thursday 9.30am (beginners) and 10.30am (improvers), register for cycle training: meet by the green cycle hub container near lake. Helmets and bikes provided. FREE.

Fitness Fun with Jenny, Tuesdays, 11-11.45am, meet near Hub (NO class on 14 & 21 Oct):

Low impact outdoors exercise class for adults of all ages and fitness levels. The class is generally in the walled garden/park, with an indoor option available if necessary/possible. £3 per participant in cash to Jenny.

National Childbirth Trust (NCT) Walk and Talk, Weds, 10.30am

Meet by Potting Shed café for an easy, buggy friendly walk around Boston Manor Park. No need to be an NCT member - all new and expectant parents are welcome! FREE.

Forest Bathing sessions with Elizabeth Howard, Weds 3 &17 Sep & 15 Oct, Sats 27 Sep, 11 and 25 Oct:

Qualified Forest Bathing practitioner Ela Howard will be guiding these 2.5 hr sessions in BMP woodland. Start times vary, all around 11am, email Ela for details and booking elahoward@hotmail.co.uk £30 pp. Limited places. Two-for-one tickets available now!

Boules drop-in family play, Sat 27 Sep, 12-3pm:

Come and play on our court with local boules enthusiasts Sandra and Les - equipment provided by BMP. FREE.

Bat walk and moth discovery, Tues 30 Sep, 6.30pm:

Let’s spot bats using our detectors after a brief introductory talk on bats! Then see what our moth trap attracts and learn about our amazing moths with local resident expert Barbara Mulligan. Meet by the picnic tables by the lake. Donation of £2 per person, cash please on the night (to help us buy another bat detector). See Facebook Bat walk and moth discovery event.

Children and families

Weekly Toddler Woodland Adventure Club, Thursdays from 18 Sep to 23 Oct, 1.15- 2.30pm:

Bring your pre-schooler to explore the Park habitats and wildlife with Tash. Sheltered/indoor spaces available and activities will take place both inside and outside. Meet by Hub. £8 per child over 2yrs (accompanying younger siblings are free) per session. Limited places. Book Woodland Adventure Club via Eventbrite. More information on Facebook.

Family Fun Day in Boston Manor Park, 27 Sep, 12-3pm:

An afternoon filled with FREE fun for the whole family - activities, raffle, music and more! Officially celebrating the end of the Heritage Lottery Funded 3-year activity programme, and looking to the future of Boston Manor Park. See Facebook for details.

Half Term Holiday Club (6-12 year olds) with Tash, Tues 28 & Wed 29 Oct, 10-2pm:

Children can expect fun, outdoor and indoor physical, forest school, nature-based and crafty activities. One hour of SUPA basketball coaching also included. All park facilities will be available. Food not included. £30 per child per day. Facebook has Holiday Club details. Holiday Club booking via Eventbrite. Places limited.

Basketball drop-in sessions with SUPA, Tuesday 28 & Wednesday 29 Oct, 10.30-11.30am:

6-12 yr olds, meet on courts, guided by coach Mario and friends for an hour. Drop in, £3 cash per participant per day.

Guided Halloween nature and sensory trail for neurodivergent children with the Wildheart Foundation and Tash, Wed 29 Oct, 2.30-4pm:

Open to all families with children 5-14 who identify as neurodivergent. A relaxed trail with engaging sensory activities loosely themed around Halloween (safe, inclusive and gentle, not scary) throughout. For information email rosalind@thewildways.org.uk to book your free place.

Creative

Creating and crafting with wildflowers, Sat 11 Oct, 13.30-15.00, workshop by Service Yard:

Enjoy creating BMP wildflower bookmarks, wildflower printing, making wildflower seedballs to plant in Autumn, foraging and botanical tea-making (including tasting home-made elderflower cordial) and learn about to how to identify/ use a few common wildflowers. Ages 8yrs up. Booking via Eventbrite. £15 per person.

Half term Mosaic-making workshop, Sat 1 Nov, 10.30-12.30pm, workshop by Service Yard:

Come and make a beautiful mosaic to take home for indoors or outdoors. All materials and equipment provided, with grouting demonstration. Ages 8 yrs up. Booking via Eventbrite. £15 per person.

Tuesday Exploratory Sessions for neurodivergent children (ages 5-14) and their parent/carer, 3.45-4.45pm, 30th Sept, 21st & 28th Oct

In service yard/walled garden. FREE. Places limited. Led by Wildheart Foundation, staff are experienced in working with neurodivergent children. Would you like to meet the Animal of Your Heart? These playful workshops will help children explore their creativity, emotional intelligence, and the unique patterns of how they behave. Email to register before attending a session rosalind@thewildways.org.uk.

Gardening and Conservation activities

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 all around the park. These sessions are physically more active than our Thurs sessions.

Every Thursday, 1.30-3.30pm: meet outside the Service yard/ walled garden. Join Vanessa for relaxed, general gardening and growing vegetables. These sessions take place in the walled garden, yard and nearby formal beds and are less physical than Tues sessions.

Youth Volunteering (13 yrs up), Sats 27 Sep, 11 & 18 Oct, 15 Nov, 6 Dec, 10.30-12.30:

Volunteering specifically for young people (13–18-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 Hub (or Service Yard). Activities 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

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 other 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. Email Vanessa to discuss options: bostonmanorpark@hounslow.gov.uk

Do you work in a school or know any teachers?

Please let us know and we can email you our School Workshops programme (scroll down, right hand side of page) and give you information about our specific SEND school workshops/work experience programme.

Park Hub Cafe:

Our café The Potting Shed thepottingshed.london is open 7 days a week, 9-4pm (weekends 9-5). Food 9-3pm. Instagram @pottingshedlondon

The Arts Centre:

After an amazing Summer Walled Garden programme, watch out for spooky productions of Frankenstein and Dracula in Sept and Oct! Book via www.theartscentre.co.uk

Boston Manor House events:

A range of events are on at the House. My Country is my home (about the Polish community in UK) on until March 2026. See What's on - Boston Manor House.

Self-guided BMP Trails:

BMP Activity Trails (self guided, all available to download or pick up in paper form (Trails 2&3 only) outside Hub:

• Trail 1 (Nature and Wellbeing)
• Trail 2 (Get to know the park!)
• Trail 3 (Wonderful Wildlife)

Download free copies in English and Polish from and Volunteering in Volunteering in Hounslow Parks | Let's Talk Hounslow (side bar, scroll down the page) and on Activities & Nature Trails | Ealing Parks

Secret Bird Mosaic Trail

Can you spot our 7 bird mosaics hanging in the woodland (top woodland path, starting near the lake and ending by oak tree by M4 flyover)? You will see a jay, a woodpecker, a sparrow, a magpie, a robin, a starling and a chaffinch. Mosaics were made by the community and Susie John, a local artist. Pick up a leaflet with photos outside Hub to help you spot them!

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.

Strava Running Club

Boston Manor Park’s own running club and running routes (co-created with WE RUN EALING, community based running organisation). See BMP2023 Club on Strava.

See our School Workshop Programme 2025-26