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Friday, 10 May 2024

Hounslow embraces Natural Summer to help wildlife thrive               

This week, the Council launched Hounslow’s Natural Summer, a new campaign designed to encourage wildlife and nature to thrive, while also enhancing biodiversity in the borough. From May until September, selected parks, open spaces and housing estates will be taking part in a range of projects all aimed at encouraging local flora and fauna to flourish.

Hounslow’s Natural Summer builds on previous years’ No Mow May events, which have seen the grass left uncut in some of the borough’s green spaces. It means that some grassy areas will be left to grow for the season to allow nature to take its course and wildflowers and pollinators such as bees, to thrive.

Creating these natural green oases can help capture carbon from the atmosphere, reduce pollution and give local wildlife a much-needed boost.

Residents can visit the Natural Summer campaign pages to learn more about the environmental benefits, to read Frequently Asked Questions, and to see which locations across the borough are taking part.

A momentous Fostering Fortnight awaits

The Council will be celebrating Fostering Fortnight (13-26 May) by sharing a diverse range of ‘moments’ from the borough’s fostering community and hosting a series of events where anyone who is curious about fostering or has ever considered becoming a foster carer can find out more about changing a young person’s life.

In line with the awareness fortnight’s theme #FosteringMoments, Hounslow have gathered a diverse range of experiences from Foster Carers, Cared for Children and Social Workers. 

Among them was Sally, who considers herself and her husband Simon as ‘veteran’ carers, having looked after over a dozen children during a career than spans nearly a decade. To read her story and more, click below. 

All aboard for the Feltham Station gallery

Pupils from Years Five and Six at The Rise School in Feltham joined their teachers, Hanane Dauki from Feltham Arts (far left) and Hounslow’s Mayor, Cllr Afzaal Kiani at Feltham Station earlier this week.

They were celebrating some beautiful artwork currently brightening up the old station entrance, designed by the pupils with help from artist Amelia Lucy Wood (third left, back row). 

This Thriving Communities funded project will be on display with other stunning pieces, as part of the Feltham Arts Summer Exhibition in the Feltham Library Hub from Monday, 13 May until Saturday, 18th May.

The weight is over as new gym opens at Avenue Park 

Get ready to sweat and smile at the Wellness and Wildlife festival at Cranford’s Avenue Park. The event takes place between midday and 4pm on Saturday, 18 May, and is celebrating the opening of the new Outdoor Gym. Expect a range of fitness, educational, sporting, and environmental activities.

The event is open to residents and visitors alike, and is sure to be an action-packed day, so dress appropriately! Lampton Leisure and the Health Outreach team will be on hand for health checks, events information, and more.

Residents can find out more about the latest news and updates from all the borough’s parks by visiting the online Parks Noticeboard.

2024 GLA Elections and Brentford West By-Election

With the 2024 Greater London Authority (GLA) Elections and Brentford West By-Election concluded, the full results are now available to view. 101 presiding officers and 225 poll clerks manned 101 polling stations on 2 May, with residents across the borough casting their vote.

Emma Yates was elected as in the Brentford West By-Election – to see the results, click here.

To see the constituency results for South-West London for the GLA Election, please click the button below.

Heritage talk at Boston Manor House

Are you interested in learning about fashion and history? On Thursday, 16 May, Amber Butchart, fashion historian and TV presenter, will host a heritage talk at Boston Manor House (TW8 9JX), from 6pm to 8pm. During the event, she will discuss some of history’s most illuminating dressers with a focus on the 19^th century and Royal dinner parties.

Sweet taste of success for Marjory Kinnon

Marjory Kinnon School in Bedfont have emerged triumphant in this year’s Social Enterprise Academy Dragon’s Den event.  Pupils from Years 7, 8 and 9 presented a range of chocolates wrapped in recycled packaging, with the monies raised from their sales used for planting beech and chestnut trees – known for their importance in local biodiversity. 

The school wins a £100 prize to go towards the development of their concept.

The Dragons featured Leader of the Council Cllr Shantanu Rajawat, Phillip Walker, Hounslow Council’s Director of Lifelong Learning, Skills, and Employment and Andrew Lawrence and Jim Locket from Bedfont based Software company SAP, sponsors of the programme in England.  This year for the first time in England, Care Leavers from Hounslow’s Virtual College took part in the competition.

Due to the exceptionally high quality of this year’s entrants’ ideas, this year’s Dragons Den also included a series of categories where the winners of additional £50 prizes were:

Best Product - Oaklands School for an Instruction Booklet that encourages independence featuring recipes and tips.

Best Pitch – Grove Road Primary School for a diverse range of projects supporting local charitable causes and businesses.

Community Champions – Hounslow Virtual College for their idea around the creation of a Community Café to alleviate the problem of social isolation for young people in the borough.

Environmental Impact - Chiswick School for their Ethical Tea concept, branded E Tea

Innovation – Logic Studio School for an idea around the creation of recycled storage boxes and picture frames made from left over materials at the school, local businesses, and the Council

Celebrate Polish culture at the Polish Heritage Festival

Lampton Park is hosting the annual Polish Heritage Festival on Saturday, 11 May from 2pm-8pm.

Residents are invited to come along and enjoy traditional Polish dance, food, and fun, in a celebration of the Polish community in London.

Additionally, the Council’s Community Information Team will be in attendance, offering advice and support on topics such as care and support, what help is available if you want to lose weight, give up smoking or make healthier choices, and other organisations, charities and groups that can offer support in the borough.

This event is free to attend – please reserve your ticket via the button below.

Question the Cabinet at the Gtech stadium

Cabinet Question Time is your opportunity to question the Leader and Cabinet of the Council. The event will follow a similar format to BBC Question Time, with questions to the Council’s Cabinet taken from residents either on the night or submitted in advance, online or by email. It will be independently chaired by Cliff Crown, Chairman of Brentford FC.

Please note that residents must book a ticket to attend by 9am on Monday, 3 June through a link on the webpage. There are no drop-in spaces available for this event and anyone without a ticket will be turned away.