Free trees for Brent community groups

Trees on the King's Drive Estate in Wembley Park

From Brent Council

Community groups in Brent are being encouraged to apply for free tree packs to brighten up their local area.

In partnership with The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) the Mayor of London is making available 25,000 trees for community groups, free of charge, to plant in their London neighbourhood.

To find out more and apply for a community tree pack, visit https://www.london.gov.uk/community-trees.

Advice from our Parks Service:

• Groups or interested residents should contact Brent through the parks service to discuss where they would like to plant the trees
• Trees can be planted on private land with the permission of the landowner, which may or may not be Brent Council
• To ensure a good spread of trees throughout the borough, we would encourage local groups to apply together and share a tree pack
• Not all trees will be suitable for all locations and trees on public land will be maintained by Brent Council, so make sure to get in touch to discuss

If you have any questions, please contact the Parks Service at brent.parks.services@brent.gov.uk

Anyone know about possible Parks Service privatisation?

Having discounted earlier rumours that Brent Council was considering privatisation, or part-privatisation of the Parks Service, I am now taking them more seriously. Following Shaun Faulkner's retirement the service was merged with other departments. Sub-contractors were used to clear the disused Barn Hill tennis courts recently and construction of the new Chalkhill Park was put out to tender - the work promised for mid-October has still not started.

The rumours have become more persistent, with the sources closer to the Parks Service, so I asked the Council press office for a comment. After an initially friendly conversation I received an e-mail saying that they only dealt with 'official media' and suggested I contact the Parks Department itself or the councillor in charge - none less than our old friend Cllr. Powney.

I am still waiting for a response from both but if any readers know more please contact me.

There is nothing in the Brent Parks Strategy 2010-2015 about possible privatisation HERE

Residents fight for park wardens

Local community rally to keep their park warden

Park Area Residents Campaign (PARC) has been formed to fight for the retention of a full-time park warden in Brent River Park. The Park covers Tokyngton Recreations Ground (Monks Park), St Raphael Open Space and the wild area around the Stadium Trading Estate.

PARC are a  broad  non-political alliance who fear that the area will degenerate and become unsafe if the warden is removed.

To find out more and to support the campaign go to their website HERE

Brent Open Spaces Win Green Flag Award

 An appreciation of Fryent Country Park

Fryent Country Park and the Welsh Harp Open Space have both won Green Flag Awards for 2010/11 and join several other Brent parks in the category. Earlier this year the Welsh Harp Open Space was threatened by housing development which was seen off by a spirited cross-party, community-based campaign.

Fryent Country Park is a surviving remnant of Middlesex countryside and contains the remains of Repton's Wembley Park landscape work.  It is a Nature Reserve and its hay meadows have organic farm accreditation. Horses are still stabled on the site of Bush Farm.

Brent Parks Service and the volunteers of the Barn Hill Conservation Group deserve recognition for the great work that they do in the park and congratulations on gaining the award. I hope the award will help Brent people realise what wonderful open spaces they have and encourage them to use and preserve them.