Claire and Marisa in
the Woodland Oasis
in Stephenson Road
TRANSFORM YOUR SPACE
residents to realise the project has
been an enriching experience.
“I look forward to seeing it grow
and sharing a home-grown apple pie
there soon.”
WHY NOT TRANSFORM
YOUR SPACE?
Is there a dead-end road nearby
blighted by anti-social behaviour?
Or do you look out on to a strip
of unused wasteland? Or perhaps
there is an unloved patch you
think has untapped potential?
The council’s third Transform
Your Space project has a pot of
£200,000 to help fund deserving
plans for changing neglected
spaces into places for the whole
community to enjoy.
Residents are being asked to
‘think big’ again and present
projects for consideration.
him out here all the time – almost every
day. I found out about the project and how
active the residents were here and it made
it an attractive place to move into. And we
have seen the dramatic change that has
taken place right on our doorstep. We are
now surrounded by green, which is lovely.”
The Woodland Oasis was designed
by celebrated landscape designer
Cleve West, a multiple Chelsea Flower
Show gold medal winner. Marisa knew
him professionally and approached
him for advice. He did much more than
that – he took a hands-on approach
and even came down to help clear the
space before work took place.
“While neglected green spaces have a
certain charm about them,” said Cleve.
“The strip of land in Stephenson Street
had become a dumping ground. The
fact that this was the only green space
in the neighbourhood made it even
more precious for residents who wanted
something more pleasant to look at and
safer for their children to use.
“The idea of a forest garden was
inspired by two or three existing apple
trees and the hope that ‘edibles’ would
engage a wider section of the community
to perpetuate this urban oasis.
“Community gardens sound idyllic in
theory but involve a lot of work behind
the scenes to make them happen and a
certain level of maintenance thereafter.
All credit to the residents who came up
with the idea and to Ealing Council for
backing the project.
“The energy and drive behind the
Woodland project has been fantastic
and working with TITRA and the
Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet
member for transport, environment
and leisure, said: “A great idea, plus
excellent community spirit, plus our
Transform Your Space funding pot;
it all adds up to better community
spaces everyone can enjoy. It’s a
winning formula that’s already made
an impact around the borough.
Get in touch to find out more.”
To submit a project for
Transform Your Space, or
for advice on setting up a project
in your area, visit the Bubble
community website at
www.DoSomethingGood.org.uk
OTHER RECENT PROJECTS
Read about a ‘fruit route’
transforming the ‘Piggeries’ site in
Hanwell at ealingnewsextra.co.uk/
features/piggeries
around ealing
Winter 2016/17
29