The London Borough of Ealing, one of the outer London boroughs although not on the periphery, has over 100 parks and open spaces within its boundaries. These include allotments, cemeteries, playgrounds, and golf courses in addition to the larger open spaces such as nature conservation areas.
Large areas along the River Brent collectively are known as the Brent River Park with numerous areas containing sports grounds, playing fields and golf courses. [b] 80% is owned by the council, while only 5% is privately owned (with the rest being owned by public bodies). The park is a key nature conservation area.
Some of these areas are below.
The Brent River Park was one of 11 parks throughout Greater London chosen to receive money for redevelopment by a public vote in 2009. The park received £400,000 towards better footpaths, more lighting, refurbished public toilets and new play areas for children. [2]
Across the London Borough of Ealing there are 63 allotments sites. Most are council-owned but a few are independent. [3] The allotments in this part of London dramatically increased during World War II as part of the government effort to feed the nation. To encourage the uptake of allotment plots by people who had no access to a garden themselves, a campaign was waged under the slogan “Dig for Victory”. Towards the later end of the 20th century they became popular again amongst the growing ethnic communities, as a source of some of their more familiar and traditional vegetables which were otherwise unobtainable in British shops. Some local organisations have now formally recognised some of the benefits that come from working on allotments and actively encourage their use. [4] Ealing Council has also signed up to the Unitary Development Plan which it is hoped will safeguard the existing allotments from building developers. [5]
a. ^ This park is named after the French aerialist Charles Blondin (who was first to cross the Niagara Falls on a tightrope). He once lived in a house on Northfield Avenue, Little Ealing and the park covers what was formerly the western part of its large grounds. [6]
b. ^ The Brent River Park is not only a public amenity but forms an important part of the borough's Green Corridors with which to aid nature conservation. Also, by prohibiting development on what is much of the river Brent's natural flood plain, it provides some measure of flood control. [7]
Brentford is a suburban town in West London, England and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It lies at the confluence of the River Brent and the Thames, 8 miles (13 km) west of Charing Cross.
The London Borough of Hounslow is a London borough in West London, England, forming part of Outer London. It was created in 1965 when three smaller borough councils amalgamated under the London Government Act 1963. It is governed by Hounslow London Borough Council.
Hanwell is a town in the London Borough of Ealing. It is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) west of Ealing Broadway and had a population of 28,768 as of 2011. It is the westernmost location of the London post town.
The London Borough of Ealing is a London borough in London, England. It comprises the districts of Acton, Ealing, Greenford, Hanwell, Northolt, Perivale and Southall. With a population of 367,100 inhabitants, it is the third most populous London borough.
Perivale is an area of Greater London, 9.5 miles (15.3 km) west of Charing Cross. It is the smallest of the seven towns which make up the London Borough of Ealing.
Southall is a large suburban town in West London, England, part of the London Borough of Ealing and is one of its seven major towns.
Ealing is a district in West London, England, 7.5 miles (12.1 km) west of Charing Cross in the London Borough of Ealing. It is the administrative centre of the borough and is identified as a major metropolitan centre in the London Plan.
The River Brent is a river in west and northwest London, England, and a tributary of the River Thames. 17.9 miles (28.8 km) in length, it rises in the Borough of Barnet and flows in a generally south-west direction before joining the Tideway stretch of the Thames at Brentford.
West Ealing is a district in the London Borough of Ealing, in West London. The district is about three-quarters of a mile (1.2 km) west of Ealing Broadway. Although there is a long history of settlement in the area, West Ealing in its present form is less than one hundred years old. West Ealing falls under the postcode district W13 and neighbours Hanwell, Ealing, Perivale and Northfields
Ealing North is a constituency, created in 1950. Since the 2019 general election, it has been represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament by James Murray of Labour Co-op.
Norwood Green is a place in the London Borough of Ealing in London, England, that forms the southern part of Southall. It is a suburban development centred 10.7 miles (17.2 km) west of Charing Cross and 4 miles (6.4 km) ENE of Heathrow Airport.
Elthorne was a hundred of the historic county of Middlesex, England.
Pitshanger is a small but busy local suburb, centred on the shops in Pitshanger Lane, located about 1 mile north of Ealing Broadway in west London. First mentioned in 1493, possibly meaning an area of sloped woodland frequented by birds. It contains numerous small independent shops, several cafes, two pubs, two churches, a school, and a park, and is often taken to also include parts of the nearby Brentham Garden Suburb.
The Wharncliffe Viaduct is a brick-built viaduct that carries the Great Western Main Line railway across the Brent Valley, between Hanwell and Southall, Ealing, UK, at an elevation of 20 metres (66 ft). The viaduct, built in 1836–7, was constructed for the opening of the Great Western Railway (GWR). It is situated between Southall and Hanwell stations, the latter station being only a very short distance away to the east.
West Twyford is a small residential area forming a northeastern corner of the London Borough of Ealing directly northeast of Hanger Lane station and north of Park Royal, south of the London Borough of Brent and the River Brent. It was historically an extra-parochial area, then civil parish (1866-1926), in Middlesex, England.
Northala Fields is a park located in Northolt, in the London Borough of Ealing. It was opened in 2008 and consists of four artificial hills standing next to the A40 Western Avenue, as well as several fishing lakes, a large field area a children's play area and adjacent café. The hills were constructed using rubble from the demolition of the original Wembley Stadium, which was closed in 2000 and demolished in 2003. The park was created as part of the Northolt and Greenford Country Park project, and backs onto the older Rectory Park.
Boston Manor Park is a large public park in the London Borough of Hounslow. A combination of woodland and open space, with an area adjoining the Grand Union Canal, it was created in 1924 from part of the historic estate of the 17th-century stately home Boston Manor House.
Blondin Park is an 8.5-hectare (21-acre) public park in Northfields in the London Borough of Ealing. It has allotments area and sports pitches. It is owned by Ealing Council and managed by the Council together with the Friends of Blondin Park. An area of 2.3 ha in the south-west corner is a Local Nature Reserve, and the nature area and allotments are a Site of Local Importance for Nature Conservation.
Warren Farm is a 61-acre plot of Metropolitan Open Land located in Norwood Green (Southall) that was previously used as playing fields by local schools. The site also has disused changing rooms and pavilions. After falling out of use as playing fields, it is now a wildflower meadow.
