Ecologically diverse front gardens - what we need and how we might get there

 

 

As a child living in Kingsbury in the 1950s I was fond of the suburban front gardens of Crundale Avenue and Valley Drive - full of shrubs, flowers and the occasional specimen tree. Now many of those have been converted into parking lots..

The CPRE Front Gardens Network seeks to  stop the decline of the front garden and the biodiversity they encouraged. In a September online meeting Rosie Whicheloe, in an Independent Ecologiss capacity,  gave a stimulating  presentation on how to reverse, enhance or preserve front gardens. It began by demonstrating how the front gardens between Fryent Country Park and the Welsh Harp could be mapped as a project starting point.

Thanks to the CPRE, Front Gardens Network and Rosie for permission to post the video here. 

The London Front Gardens Network promotes de-paving and re-greening of front gardens by enabling people working in this area to exchange information and ideas, amplify the voices of individuals, and promote joint working where it can increase impact. Ultimately the aim is to re-establish important wildlife habitat; reduce river pollution and flooding caused by excessive rainwater run-off; reduce the urban heat island effect caused by paved surfaces; and make streets more pleasant to encourage walking and to promote wellbeing.

 

Suburban street in Jack Rosenthal's 'Ptang, yang, Kipperbang' (1982)

 

The UK’s disappearing gardens Most recently, in October, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) published The State of Gardening, along with first-time mapping of the UK’s domestic, public and private gardens which finds that: “Just 0.15% of domestic garden is artificial lawn but this still accounts for 7.5million m2 while artificial grass across all cultivated green space stands at 18million m2 - more than six times the size of the City of London.” “More than a third (35%) of domestic gardens comprises lawn, with 25.8% under trees and 11% as flower beds.” “42% of domestic garden space is paved over (55% of front garden space and 36% of back garden space)”  As we know, the loss of gardens adds to rising flood risk and health-harm from higher temperatures i.e. not just in official ‘heatwaves’, and reduces the role of gardens, soils and plants in supporting wild species, storing carbon, and capturing some air pollutants.   For more, see pages 12 and 13 of the report:    The RHS is calling for: Policymakers to guarantee “Space to Grow” in all housing and urban planning, so every household has access to a garden. Homeowners to consider robust planting and permeable paving for front garden driveways to help mitigate flood risk and promote the cooling potential of gardens as well as support biodiversity. Local councils to ensure diversity in tree planting, prioritising those species that will respond best to climate change. Developers to design gardens with water channelling, capture and storage facilities to help future proof them.

 

 

Is your Buddleja ('Butterfly Bush') suffering an aphid attack? if so the RHS would like to hear from you.

 

There is an outbreak of aphids in Buddleja bushes in the UK and they appear to have come to Wembley. The above are in Saltcroft Close. The RHS is researching into the outbreak and would like you to make a short report, with photographs if possible, if you have an infected bush. See below:

 

Symptoms of aphids on buddleja

• Crinkled, puckered and curled leaves that can look diseased
• Pale or yellow patches
• Aphid colonies may be found on the underside of leaves
• Shed skins indicate that aphids were previously present

Have you seen aphids or aphid damage on buddleja plants?

As part of our scientific research, we would like to know where buddleja aphid damage has been seen. If you’ve seen symptoms on buddleja plants, please take photos of the upper and lower sides of the leaves to submit to our survey. Please submit your records via our aphids on buddleja survey here (expected time to complete survey = two minutes).

If you have active aphid colonies, we may follow up to see if you can send us a sample to further help with our research on this relatively new find.

Thank you to everyone who has submitted records so far. Discover other sightings you can report to help our research here.

Background and research

In 2023, the RHS Gardening Advice Service received 58 reports of buddleja plants showing unusual symptoms. Samples of leaves were sent to the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) for to be tested for viruses, but none were detected, meaning the symptoms were most likely caused by damage from aphids feeding on the leaves.

In 2024, 67 reports were received, with aphids being found on the plants in most cases. RHS entomologists worked with aphid experts at the Rothamsted Insect Survey to obtain a tentative identification of melon-cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii) from a sample of buddleja at RHS Wisley.

Melon-cotton aphid is a generalist, which means it’s able to feed on many plant types, but it has mostly been limited to glasshouses in the UK. Due to the spike in reports over the last two years, our scientists are calling for sightings to be submitted. Reporting any sightings of aphids on buddleja will help us better understand its distribution and make further identifications.

 

How to manage aphids on buddleja

Although the leaf symptoms can look alarming, aphids are unlikely to have a significant impact on your buddleja’s health and vigour, so can often be tolerated.

If you see aphids on the plant, advice on how to manage them can be found here.

Appeal for volunteers to help clear vegetation - Welsh Harp Centre, Birchen Grove, March 8th 10am-2pm

 

Welsh Harp Education Centre Vegetation Management

Saturday 8^th March, 10am – 2pm

 

Come and volunteer at the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre for vegetation clearance. Help us clear along the fence line where brambles and shrubs are taking over and pushing the fence. This will greatly benefit the biodiversity of our site and the allotment holders on the other side. Dramatic and satisfying results guaranteed!

 

Stay for an hour or the whole event, but please come from the beginning so we can kit you out with wellington safety boots, gloves and tools. Tea, coffee and a warm room provided, bring your lunch if you like.

 

How to Book:

Sign up for this event on Plinth here

·        Register or login on Plinth to book ticket/s.

·        To book multiple tickets, book your first one, then add a person.

·        No need to print your ticket, we have your details once you book.

·        If you need to cancel your booking, log into Plinth, go to My Account, My Bookings and cancel.

 

Location:

Meet at Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre (Google Maps link)

Birchen Grove, NW9 8RY. Follow the signs towards the Birchen Grove Garden Centre.

The postcode covers a large area so please use the Google Maps link (not Apple Maps) or the What3Words link below.

What3Words location: ///woof.charm.visits

 

Any Questions?

Deb Frankiewicz

Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre

Email: welshharpcentre@thames21.org.uk

Ph: 07711 701 694

 

Further info:

·        We will be walking on uneven ground and you may have to bend and duck under branches.

·        Places are limited and booking is essential, please cancel your Plinth booking if you can no longer attend.

·        Please wear comfortable outdoor clothing in layers and a spare pair of socks if it’s cold for wellington safety boots. Please bring a waterproof jacket if it is forecast to rain. 

·        All tools and gardening gloves provided.

 

Debra Frankiewicz

Environmental Educator, Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre

Summer Family Events at Willesden Jewish Cemetery

 

Guest post by Irina Porter

Where would you go on a sunny day to enjoy exploring outdoors in the cool shade of the trees, stunning flowers and urban wildlife? Where can you do this with all the family – from the young ones to the grandparents – experiencing something educational and fascinating? To the cemetery, of course!

 

Willesden Jewish Cemetery (WJC) is not just a place of remembrance, but also a beautiful sanctuary full of life. It is a 20 acre oasis of nature, combined with a beautiful architectural landscape, right in the middle of a busy built up area. Adjacent to Roundwood Park, it forms part of a large green corridor where nature thrives, and it is now open for everyone to explore and enjoy.

WJC opened in 1873 as a garden cemetery. It was nearly full by the 1960s, and now only 20 funerals a year take place there. In 2015, an innovative project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and other benefactors transformed the cemetery into a heritage attraction, with historic displays, interpretation boards, information leaflets, free car parking, disabled access and toilets. The new Heritage Centre welcomes visitors of all faiths and cultures, telling the story of the Jewish community in London and beyond. If you happen to drop by during the opening hours (see the website for details: https://www.willesdenjewishcemetery.org.uk), a friendly volunteer will show you what’s on offer and answer your questions.

Volunteers are at the heart of what we do: from gardening to guided tours, from historical research to front of house. Our friendly team is there to contribute passion, time and expertise to our common cause – to bring this gem of history and nature to a wider audience.

The cemetery runs a busy programme, which includes guided walks, family history advice, Death Café, schools’ visits, World War commemorations and nature events.

This summer we are launching a new programme of activities, aimed at families and children:

 

On Sunday 14 July join us for our Family Discovery Day, a morning of nature exploration, something unique and fascinating for the whole family. A short guided walk offers an introduction to what we have to offer to a young nature lover, as well as taking in the beauty of a historic architectural landscape. Throughout the morning children will be able to take part in creative workshops, such as making bug hotels and butterflies. Our volunteers will share the remarkable stories of some very special people connected with the cemetery. Plus: try on a special hat for a perfect photo opportunity!

If you fancy exploring the cemetery by yourself, we offer discovery trails tailored for different school ages, which uncover stories and secrets hidden within the cemetery's grounds. From spotting symbols of Jewish traditions to unravelling mysteries surrounding intriguing figures, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

For the grown-ups, we offer a leaflet with a map and life stories of 20 remarkable individuals, which will help you navigate through our enchanting gardens and significant monuments as well as a FREE guide on Bloomberg connects: https://www.bloombergconnects.org/

The event is free, there is a small charge of £5 per family for craft activities. For more information and to book, visit: (https://www.willesdenjewishcemetery.org.uk/events/family-discovery)

If you cannot make 14 July, check out our summer workshops for children. Discover the Wonders of Nature sessions which will run on 24 and 31 July, 2pm – 4 pm. We’ll take a short nature walk through our beautiful grounds, exploring the hidden gems of our local ecosystem with our knowledgeable guides. Following the walk, we will run a craft session.

 

 

Using materials sourced from the great outdoors, let your imagination soar as you create beautiful works of art inspired by the wonders of the environment. From nature mosaics to bug hotels, there's something for everyone to enjoy! https://www.willesdenjewishcemetery.org.uk/events/nature-holiday-workshops

Every Wednesday morning in August we will run Creative Collage Workshops. Inspired by the cemetery and expressing this on paper, create beautiful and meaningful collages which tell stories of the past, stirred by the evocative landscape. The workshops are aimed at primary school children but will be suitable and enjoyable for all ages. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Advance booking is essential. https://www.willesdenjewishcemetery.org.uk/events/creative-workshops.

Please feel free to get in touch if you have further questions: either by email (heritage@theus.org.uk) or phone (020 8459 6107). We will be happy to hear from you and welcome you to our very special historic green space.

 

Village Mews: A story of neglect, lack of maintenance and poor communication by a series of housing associations that leaves residents in a desperate situation

 

 

The ‘Village Mews’ housing next to St Andrew’s Church, Kingsbury, at first looks an idyllic enclave, surrounded by trees and in the shadow of a beautiful church spire, but closer inspection reveals a different story.

 

I was invited by residents to see for myself the conditions they live in caused by general neglect, lack of maintenance and roots from overgrown trees.

 

The development is more than 30 years old and was started by Paddington Churches Housing Association (PCHA), and then handed on to Genesis, which later merged with  Notting Hill Housing Trust to become Notting Hill Genesis. This series of landlords presided over gradual deterioration and neglect. 

 

 

 Part of a consultation slide show. Residents were not told what the different colours indicate but the red shows the garages and car park (could they be built on?), yellow shows the terrace houses (refurbishment?) and blue the building facing Church Lane housing 4 flats (demolition and re-build?) only one is occupied at present. Some parts of the site are missing from the image.

 

 

The timeline given to residents. The consultation has been extended until April 26th.

 

Now residents are being consulted on a further takeover by an entity known as Springboard Two Housing Association Ltd, a rather mysterious offshoot of Notting Hill Genesis, that proposes to decant residents into temporary accommodation while a survey and works take place. Initially residents were told it would be for 3 months, but this was later extended to 13 months. Of course, as no detailed survey has been carried it this could be far longer.

 

Residents are concerned about the suitability of the temporary accommodation for the residents of the 16 properties involved and whether it would be suitable for those with a disability or pets. They shudder at the thought of temporary hotel accommodation which appears a possibility as Notting Hall Genesis does not have enough property of its own to decant everyone into.

 

Residents are suspicious of the role of Springboard Twoand fear that when a proper survey is carried out (they claim that there has never been a thorough one and the latest consisted only of a ‘visual walkabout’ and desktop exercise) it may conclude that the whole lot should be demolished.  With 14 garages on site and a car park space, redevelopment could include infill housing as well as rebuild with the prospect of private sales. The proposals for Chalkhill Estate infill, sponsored by Brent Council, are seen as relevant.

  

One resident pointed out that their rent had risen by £40 a week over two years and that their accommodation is so poorly maintained that the electricity bill is £600 a month with a bath costing £3. Residents gain little from service charges with minimal gardening and maintenance of lighting.

 

As a green I am committed to safeguarding our trees, especially those with a Tree Preservation Order. Village Mews is in St Andrews Conservation Area, and this offers further safeguards. However, the lack of action on maintenance of the trees means, according to residents, that they have caused damage to drains, walls, doorways, roofs, and the driveway. Unfortunately, because of the lack of surveys, Notting Hill Genesis failed to produce sufficient evidence when an application was submitted to Brent Council for the felling of poplar trees and only a reduction of an ash and two oaks was approved.  They failed to mention huge branches that had fallen. Even then the actual works that took place removed less of  each tree than had been granted.  Residents said because of this ineptitude they have been left with an unenviable choice between safe and comfortable homes and protecting trees. 

 

All this might have been unnecessary if there had been proper maintenance of the trees on the site over the last few decades by the various housing associations.  The same would go for the church authorities and the maintenance and control of the trees on their land that abutts Village Mews.

 

The driveway, poplar trees on right. No evidence of damage according to Brent Council
 

 

 St Andrew's Church tree roots go into the back gardens of Village Mews and extend to back walls.

 

 

Proximity of the St Andrew's Church trees to the back gardens and houses

 

 

Tree roots displace the fence and run across car park area

 

 

Wall out of line after root and stem intrustion

 

Damp and drainage issues on terraced houses

 

Leaf fall from overhanging branches creates moss growth and subsequent roof problems

 

Tree roots block drains

 

 The following pictures are from the main house fronting Church Lane which accommodates four  flats only one of which is occupied and you will see why.

Porch roof collapse over front door

 

 Gap between wall and door

Crack in house wall

 

 

Internal cracks

Collapsing windows

 

Boarded up flat

Heavy iron drain pipes that luckily did not fall on anyone

 

There are 14 garages, only some of which are in use and a lot of uncertainty about how residents can apply to rent them. If they are left to deteriorate, as happened on Kings Drive Estate and Newlands Court, it could be used as justification for demolition and subsequent development.

Below is the 2022 Brent Council response to a request for cutting back several trees and felling the poplars.  Perhaps the evidence in the photographs above will encourage a review by Notting Hill Genesis, St Andrew's Church and Brent Council regarding a joint approach to tackling the  issue.

 

 

The Notting Hill Genesis consultation ends on April 26th and while residents understood that they could decide whether Springboard Two should take over their property, the statement from Notting Hill Genesis appears to see it as a done deal.

 

I asked Notting Hill Genesis about:

 

1. The failure to address and rectify the structural damage cause by neighbouring trees over a long period.

2. The results of any site surveys carried out and plans to rectify the problems.

3. The requirement that tenants move out into other accommodation while works are carried out - the period, the type of accommodation offered, whether the needs of disabled or elderly will be taken into account, whether pet owners will be offered pet friendly accommodation 

4. The role of Springboard Two - there is very little information available on this organisation. Please provide details.

5. Whether there are plans to redevelop the site, including the 14 garages - perhaps in partnership with Brent Council

6. Anything you can say that will reassure tenants

 

A Notting Hill Genesis spokesperson said:

 

We know the structural issues at Village Mews are having an impact on residents. While there is no immediate risk to the safety of the buildings, significant work needs to happen to resolve the issues and so we can provide the comfortable homes our residents deserve. Everything we do at Village Mews will be in support of that.

 

We acknowledge that our messaging has not always been as clear as we aspire to. We’re now working closely with everyone living there to ensure they understand both the approach we’re taking, and why we’re taking it.

 

Nothing happening here affects residents’ security of tenancy, the right to live in their home or their rents. If households need to move out temporarily, we will speak to them individually to fully understand their needs for an alternative home and make sure their requirements are met.

 

 

Background:

 

• We are in discussions with Brent Council and our contractors about the trees at Village Mews to seek a solution that works for all parties
• Work that could be required includes underpinning the foundations of homes, replacing any unstable walls to ensure structural integrity and drainage works to protect the drains against tree root growth
• A full plan will be provided to residents by our contractors once it has been completed
• Residents will not face any costs relating to this work
• We will be transferring the homes to our subsidiary, Springboard Two, which is still part of Notting Hill Genesis. This technical solution allows us to free up extra funds that can be spent on the structural improvements, cyclical works, and enhanced energy performance

 

 

A Village Mews resident reacted:

 

That response is as expected and they’re making it seem they’re being transparent and have our best interests at heart (blah, blah, blah) but they’re being exceptionally sneaky glossing over the Springboard Two aspect. It’s interesting they say they WILL transfer to SB2 as from our understanding this current consultation period is to get views about this, and we oppose it. So, if they go ahead, how exactly do they have us in mind?! No transparency at all and I’m extremely concerned to be honest.