Plans to transform area of West Acton boosted with news from council

Residents at a previous community gardening event

A local community group has raised nearly £10,000 for its project to restore an overgrown strip of land between two roads on the self-managed Hanger Hill Garden Estate and qualify for further funding from the council's Transform Your Space scheme.

Hanger Hill Garden Estate is a self-managed ‘Mock Tudor’ estate of 361 houses and 258 flats in West Acton, London. Built in the 1930s, it is a conservation area and home to a thriving and diverse community with mainly UK, Japanese, Middle Eastern, Indian and East European roots. The residents association, run entirely by volunteers, represents the Estate in planning and other matter

An open meeting on Saturday 2nd September heard that more than 50 individuals and organisations have already contributed to the project’s crowdfunding campaign crowdfunding site Spacehive.com..

This includes £2,000 from Ealing Council via Hanger Hill Ward Forum, the offer of 20 trees from Transport for London, and help from local businesses including 11 Café, North Ealing, which hosted Saturday’s event.

A working group of volunteers has been co-ordinating plans under the umbrella of the Hanger Hill Garden Estate Residents Association. A ‘cherry tree’ theme was chosen because many of the flowering cherries planted when the Estate was created have already been lost and the others are nearing the end of their natural lives. By renewing the tree stock, the project will reflect the history of the Estate, celebrate its contemporary Japanese community and look ahead to the next 80 years.

Consultation among residents highlighted a range of other priorities, including the need to improve road safety given the large number of pupils using the area from four local schools, and concerns about vehicle pollution and biodiversity.

“Balancing the various priorities has been very challenging,” said John Ward, a local landscape designer who is on the project’s working group. “But I think we have now arrived at an approach that retains the best of the existing vegetation, especially healthy mature trees, while making the area safer, more attractive and sustainable for the future.”

Organisers say the project has been the catalyst for other community activities, including a new volunteer gardening group and Twitter feed. “The community has really got behind Cherry Tree Walk,” said Bill Bailey, residents association Chairman. “Some people had reservations to start with but we have taken their views and suggestions into account and I think we now have a clear consensus on the right way to go. All we need now is the funding to achieve our vision!”

Approximately 20% of the budget has been pledged since fundraising began in mid-June, with contributions from Transport for London, Hanger Hill Ward Forum, individuals and local businesses.

Ealing Council has just informed the residents of their successful bid for further funding, information should be forthcoming shortly.

Further information is on the Hanger Hill Garden Estate web site.

11th September 2017