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Free 24,000 Maple or Birch Trees for Londoners!! Two each by ballot. 50 trees for community groups

Plant a treeHelp to make London greener, healthier and wilder by joining London’s biggest ever tree planting weekend on 1 and 2 December. Plant trees in your garden, in your community, or at a mass planting event and help to make London a National Park City.You can get two free trees for your garden in a London-wide ballot, 50 trees for your community organisation and have your own group planting, or go to Perivale Park in Ealing that weekend and help plantHOW TO GET FREE TREES FOR YOUR GARDEN TO HELP MAKE LONDON GREENER AND WILDERThe Mayor of London/London Assembly is working with the Woodland Trust, The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy and Sainsbury’s to give away 24,000 free trees by ballot to Londoners.How does it work? https://www.london.gov.uk/plant-a-tree/What type of trees will be provided - are they right for my garden?All of our trees are field maple or birch – beautiful garden species that are great for wildlife and easy to plant. The saplings will be between 20-40 cm high and the trees can be kept fairly small. Their spectacular autumn colours will look great in your garden.The trees come in packs of two – so you can plant one and give one to a friend.How does the ballot work?You’ll need to apply by 5 November and let us know where you’d like your saplings to be sent.Then you’ll be entered into a London-wide ballot to win one of the tree packs. The winning entries will be selected at random from all Londoners that apply.If I’m successful, what happens next?If your name is drawn, your pack of two saplings will be sent to you by the end of November. When they arrive, it will be right in the middle of planting season – and you’ll be able to join thousands of Londoners planting trees in neighbourhoods across London during our city-wide planting weekend on 1 and 2 December. All you’ll need is a spade!COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS: GET 50 FREE TREES TO BRIGHTEN UP YOUR LONDON NEIGHBOURHOODThe Mayor of London/Londaon Assembly is working with The Conservation Volunteers to give away 25,000 trees to community groups across the city – and help bring cleaner, fresher air to all Londoners.https://www.london.gov.uk/community-treesWhat type of trees will be provided - are they right for my community?Your trees will be a mixture of UK native species specially chosen by The Conservation Volunteers - they are great for wildlife and easy to plant. The saplings will be between 20-60cm high and come in packs of 50, making them the perfect addition to any communal green space.How do I order my trees?You’ll need to apply before the 22 November and let us know where you’d like your saplings to be sent. They will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, so place your order now.What happens next?Your pack of trees will be sent to you by the end of November. When they arrive, it will be right in the middle of planting season – and you’ll be able to join thousands of Londoners planting trees in neighbourhoods across London during our city-wide planting weekend on 1 and 2 December. We’ll also send you a short planting guide to help you get started.VOLUNTEER AT A TREE PLANTING EVENTDon’t have your own space to plant a tree but still want to make London greener, healthier and wilder? Roll up your sleeves and get involved in an event on London’s biggest ever tree planting weekend on 1 and 2 December.https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/environment/parks-green-spaces-and-biodiversity/tree-planting/volunteerCommunities across the capital will be planting trees, including 4 mass planting events with our lead events partner, Trees for Cities, at:    Forest Road Recreation Ground, Redbridge    Beckenham Place Park, Lewisham    Montagu Recreation Ground, Enfield    Perivale Park, EalingYou’ll be able to find out more about the events and how you can get involved later this month. Sign up to our mailing list and we’ll let you know when volunteering registration opens.If you would like to host a planting event, order your free pack of 50 trees now or email trees@london.gov.uk to add your event to our listings.

Mark Julian Raymond ● 2905d2 Comments ● 2904d

Review Nails Soane's Kitchen

Only just caught up with this review of Soane's Kitchen by Kathryn Flett but I think it sums up the place pretty accurately — beautiful location but overpriced mediocre food and a smug corporate attitude. 

Dennis O'Shea ● 2906d1 Comments ● 2906d

Step free Northfields

It does seem strange that both South Ealing and Northfields stations, both very busy stations, still have no step free access between them.I do recall when working on a local paper in the 1980s at an LRT press conference, that part and parcel of the rebuilding of South Ealing station without a lift facility was because it would be included in the refurbishment of Northfields " in due course".This was of course in a period of run down and neglect of the Underground network in general and then followed the Kings Cross fire and all resources were redirected to stations with wooden escalators.Northfields station by then was a listed building and was eventually refurbished in keeping with it's listed status to a degree.However, the probable deferment and eventual dropping of any sort of lift access is more likely to do with the huge cost due to the actual structural construction method of the station buildings.   The huge cost is unviable as originally conceived.However,There may well be another option though which is still evidential on the trackside to the north and east of the station.Northfields Station had a long forgotten second entrance in Weymouth Avenue. Lurking in the overgrowth are the concrete pillars that supported the raised walkway which linked to a footbridge and stairs to the two platforms at the Eastern end of the station platforms.Two possibilities :1. To recreate the raised but covered walkway from Northfields Stn parallel to the platforms linking to lifts at the far end by reinstating the gantry bridge2. Additionally reinstating the link to Weymouth Avenue as a secondary access which would also be step free which would benefit those who cannot use South Ealing which is unlikely to ever be step free.This would mean minimal structural works to the actual station and platforms at Northfields making cost effective and thus a viable possibility.

Mark Kehoe ● 2917d7 Comments ● 2907d

EALING'S DANGEROUS TOWER BLOCKS

There are four tower blocks in Ealing with dangerous cladding.  The Council, however, has refused to say where they are. It is relying on Government Guidance not to reveal locations.  It is not mandatory to follow Guidance.  The “received wisdom” is that it should be followed unless a local authority has a good reason for acting against it.   There is every reason in this case to disregard it. My local councillor, Yvonne Johnson, has told me that the Council conducted a survey of tower blocks.  The dangerous ones were evidently not ones belonging to the Council, but the question remains:  Where are they?  There are further questions.  At what level in the Council and by whom specifically was it decided to follow Guidance and keep the locations secret? Does the Council, while not owning them, house people there?  Who does own them?  (If we knew the addresses, we could discover the owners’ names from the Land Registry). Have the owners done anything about the situation?  Are there still people living in them?  Allowing the public to know the locations and so the identity of the freehold owners of the properties would serve the purpose of putting pressure on them to do something about their dangerous buildings.  The Grenfell tragedy affected not only the residents of that block;  it also affected the wider neighbourhood.   The neighbours of these towers have every right to know they are living near to dangerous buildings.   This is not a situation in which secrecy is appropriate.   The information that is needed involves third parties (the owners of the blocks), but this is a case where the confidentially that might enjoy should be set aside in the interest of the greater public good.

Andrew Farmer ● 2911d1 Comments ● 2909d

D.N.A sampling.

Can anyone with a knowledge of scientific matters please help? Muriel Drinkwater aged 12 was raped and murdered near Swansea in 1946. In 2008 South Wales Police located Muriel's coat which had been stored away since 1946. The coat produced a profile from semen found on the coat. It was a Y-STR profile which unfortunately cannot link a known suspect in the murder to the suspect's daughter who is still alive. I have been led to believe that only a son can provide the link, but the suspect has no sons. Can nephews or any other family member of the suspect provide the link?

Neil Milkins ● 2910d0 Comments ● 2910d

MindFood at Horsenden Farm’s Apple Day - this Saturday!

Hi thereThe new dates for our FREE 6-session Growing Wellbeing course are:5th Oct - for 6 Fridays, 1.30 to 4 at Cleveley Crescent Allotments (nr Hanger Lane tube)16th Oct for 6 Tuesdays, 1.00 to 3.30 at Horsenden Farm (Perivale)You’ll get to take home veg you’ve helped to grow, and the final session is a free trip to Kew Gardens. Please do help us spread the word!If you’d like to find out more about how food-growing can help tackle stress, anxiety and depression, come and visit us on Apple Day at the Farm. Half of all Londoners are more stressed than they’d like to be - so if you’re doing fine, it could be handy info for someone you know.For more details, visit www.mindfood.org.uk or email me at info@mindfood.org.uk

Lucy Clark ● 2911d0 Comments ● 2911d

South Ealing mobilises against Assyrian Centre club licence bid meet your ward councillor tonight

Ward Councillor David Millican is holding one of his "Meet the Councillors" evenings. Justine Greening MP will also be there on Wednesday 5 September. I know if several people who will be attending to make their thoughts known on the Assyrian Centre Crisis. Come and meet us and share your views on Wednesday 5 September from 7:30pm at The Harvester, Boston Rd W7 2AX.  There’s no charge but you are asked to buy yourself a drink from the bar.Everyone in South Ealing knows the Assyrian Centre with its ant-social activities. Its visitors park on the pavements, block the double yellow line safety corners, boy-race at all hours of the night and are violent and agressive towards residents who try and comment protest. Load music and disorder accompanies all its social events into the night and local residents are disturbed by drunks wandering down surrounding streets to try and find their cars at all ours of the night.Placed next door to Roddys Bar (or should it be Druggies Bar) and the L'Oro di Napoli it looks as though a new slum is being created. Every night for weeks now one of the L'Oro stafs been parking on the pavement on the Quad and most people cross the road to avoid walking past Roddys with its heaving mess of drugged and drunk people, South Ealing is becoming the scum corner of Ealing and we need to stop it. The last thing we need is a Barracuda Club or a giant Crispins attracting the night-time scum of EalingNorthfield Ward Councillor David Millicam is working hard on this issue and has already send this:This message was sent with High importance.David MillicanTue 04/09/2018, 16:10Dear South Ealing NeighboursAssyrian Centre Temple Road18LIC54301PREMThe Assyrian Centre have applied for a licence forFilmLive and Recorded musicSale of alcoholPerformance of DanceLate night refreshmentMonday to Thursday to midnightFriday and Saturday to 2:00amSunday to 1:00amThe licensing application is here, which spells out what they want to do.http://maps.ealing.gov.uk/webreports/m3pp/licence_consultation_lookup.aspMany of you have contacted me with complaints of loud music and of noisy and rowdy behaviour of attendees, past midnight and into the small hours, to events at this Assyrian Centre over several years.It is hard to imagine that this will change if this application is approved.You may care to send your comments by writing tolicensing@ealing.gov.ukI hope that this is helpful— David.Councillor David MillicanConservative representing Northfield Ward44 Claygate Road | London | W13 9XG020 8810 1989david.millican@btinternet.comThis license will destroy what's left of South Ealing. Reduce property value. Increase the crime right. Disturb nighttime sleep and should worry parents of young children.

Jane F. Tetter ● 2933d1 Comments ● 2912d

September smile

Two hunters are out in the woods when one of them collapses. He doesn't seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other guy whips out his phone and calls the emergency services. He gasps, "I think my friend is dead! What can I do?" The operator says "Calm down. I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead." There is a silence, then a shot is heard. Back on the phone, the guy says "OK, now what?"

Graham Weeks ● 2928d5 Comments ● 2913d

Is South Ealing finished as anti-social Assyrian Centre puts in late night pub/club license bid?

The Assyrian Centre have applied for a licence for Film Live and Recorded music Sale of alcohol Performance of Dance Late night refreshment

Jane F. Tetter ● 2933d19 Comments ● 2913d

Return to Ealing and update

Return to Ealing, by John BetjemanReturn, return to Ealing,Worn poet of the farm!Regain your boyhood feelingOf uninvaded calm!For there the leafy avenuesOf lime and chestnut mix’dDo widely wind, by art designed,The costly houses ’twixt.No early morning tractorsThe thrush and blackbird drown,No nuclear reactorsBulge huge below the down,No youth upon his motor-bikeHis lust for power fulfilWith dentist’d drill intent to killThe silence of the hills.In Ealing on a SundayBell-haunted quiet falls,In Ealing on a Monday‘Milk-o!’ the milkman calls;No lorries grind in bottom gearUp steep and narrow lanes,Nor constant here offend the earLow-flying aeroplanes.Return, return to Ealing,Worn poet of the farm!Regain your boyhood feelingOf uninvaded calm!Where smoothly glides the bicycleAnd softly flows the BrentAnd a gentle gale from PerivaleSends up the hayfield scent.Return to Ealing, by GrahamReturn, return to Ealing,Worn poet from the sticks!Regain your boyhood feelingOf multi ethnic mix!For there the leafy avenuesOf lime and chestnut mix’dDo widely wind, by art designed,The costly houses ’twixt.No early morning tractorsThe thrush and blackbird drown,No nuclear reactorsBulge huge below the down,The youth upon his motor-bikeHis lust for power fulfilsAnd muggers on their mopedsSnatch mobiles at their wills.In Ealing on a SundaySunday trading malls,In Ealing on a MondayConstant mobile calls;Lorries grind in bottom gearPast buses faster lanes,And constant here offend the earHeathrow's aeroplanes.Return, return to Ealing,Worn poet from the sticks!Regain your boyhood feelingOf multi ethnic mix!Where smoothly glides the bicycleAnd softly flows the BrentAnd Hoovers now in PerivaleHas Tesco flats to rent

Graham Weeks ● 2914d1 Comments ● 2914d

As of today Ealing Central Library is closed, a new dark age dawns

As of today Ealing Central Library is closed for the foreseable future. A new dark age dawns in one of the most affluent parts of the world. Will it ever re-open?

Mark Julian Raymond ● 2936d6 Comments ● 2917d

cyclists riding on pavements Ealing Broadway

Why do cyclists ride on the pavements around Ealing Broadway Station?Is it to avoid the one way system, or to frighten pedestrians by whizzing up behind them? highway code rule 64. Should community police monitor their activities?

anthony brian millier ● 2918d2 Comments ● 2918d

I dont kwow what to Make of it.

CORONATION STREET,EASTENDERS, EMMERDALE, POPULAR SOAPS----but every time the story deals with unimaginable deceit, and utter disregard for human feelings being drowned by murderous characters causing grief and pain .Is this entertainment? Many elderly and ordinary Peoploe are beginning to believe there are a greater numbers among us today in the Community who are viewed with fear and suspicion. I think so too.I prefer to watch DADS ARMY -OR FOOLS AND HORSES.wHAT'S YOUR OPINION?

Os a whittle ● 2924d2 Comments ● 2923d

Is Trump actually insane?

The following is text of an actual part of a speech delivered by the Trumpster at a recent rally:"I have broken more Elton John records, he seems to have a lot of records. And I, by the way, I don’t have a musical instrument. I don’t have a guitar or an organ. No organ. Elton has an organ. And lots of other people helping. No we’ve broken a lot of records. We’ve broken virtually every record. Because you know, look I only need this space. They need much more room. For basketball, for hockey and all of the sports, they need a lot of room. We don’t need it. We have people in that space. So we break all of these records. Really we do it without like, the musical instruments. This is the only musical: the mouth. And hopefully the brain attached to the mouth. Right? The brain, more important than the mouth, is the brain. The brain is much more important."If you want to check, here is the linkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbHKg1keVskRambling and incoherent don't even begin to describe it.....

Thelma Leach ● 2931d16 Comments ● 2925d

Colville Rd Acton W3

This is practically the only road im aware of with no parking restrictions.However there are a number of vehicles from car repair shops, unfit to drive, which take lots of spaces.Another company (Stoneworks) put out its own cones & a threatening letter on the windscreen of a car who parked having moved cones.The one dumped car I saw in Scotch Common properly signed & the public told the authoritys were aware it, has been sitting waiting for removal for at least 2 months!!!!!!!Can anything be done??What is the position regarding garages using the public highway as agarage & carpark?

Peter Yale ● 2927d1 Comments ● 2927d

'Privatising' the NHS in Ealing

I have a great deal of sympathy with the people who demonstrated recently outside the Town Hall about the possibility of the contract to provide out of hospital care in the borough to Virgin. My parents worked for the NHS and family members still do. However, we have to recognise that some really difficult choices need to be made. Virgin probably will be able to deliver the services more cheaply. Although they will have to make a profit margin on the contract private sector employers generally are more efficient that the state catastrophes like Carillion and Birmingham prison notwithstanding. The existing trust will have much greater employee costs and have to operate under restrictive practices which will make provision of the service more expensive. We should pretend that alot of the savings from Virgin come about because relatively poorly paid people will be paid less but, at the same time, when Rupa Huq and Julian Bell demonstrate to 'Save Our NHS' it should be clearly understood that they are campaigning for the interests of the providers of the service and not that of the patients.

Dennis O'Shea ● 2943d7 Comments ● 2929d

Ealing Beat Art Trail

Great event and an opportunity to see the world famous Mosaic House in Fairlawn Grove and chat to some of the artists who created it at the studio in Acton Lane.They also have a few copies of the Cash is King book of Defaced Banknotes which was launched at Saatchi Gallery last week and caused an uproar when it featured on ITV news and in the National Press recently.I will be visiting some studios today to support our local talent.

bobby osborne ● 2929d0 Comments ● 2929d

A40 30mph Speed Limit

Does anybody know why there is a 30mph speed limit on the A40 between Greenford and the Target Roundabout? It has been there since the New Year but nobody seems to be working there, despite a sign saying repairs to central reservation (which is blatantly not true).

Ian Fergus ● 2967d46 Comments ● 2931d

Energy boost on Monday 10th

Energy Therapists will be at the London Buddhist Vihara, The Avenue, W4 1UD on Monday, 10th September, between 11am and 1pm (last session 12.45).  The session takes about 15-20 minutes and I am sure that you will feel really good at the end of that time, with lots of vital energy to enable you to enjoy the rest of your week!  A number of therapists come in each month and give their services free.  The Vihara kindly allow us to use the hall at no charge so a donation is most welcome as this enables us to give all donations to the Vihara.These sessions are not related to any religion, everyone is welcome.

Chris Edwards ● 2931d0 Comments ● 2931d

Loads of Roadworks, don't bother driving through South Ealing

Fine display of Cadent-supervised Gas Holes dug around South Ealing Tube Stration on the South Ealing Road, maturing nicely, no activity since last week, temporary traffic lights restricting road to ne lane. Traffic chaos. Water People doing something on Little Ealing Lane and also have temporary traffic lights near South Ealing Road Junction restricting traffic to one lane. Cadent Gas People look dug in for the next week.

Mark Julian Raymond ● 2935d4 Comments ● 2932d