Out & About Magazine, West London, Feb-March 2023

Real kitchens for real f a milies

We supply high quality German, Italian and traditional handmade English bespoke kitchens at family-friendly prices.

Our 2023 range offers all the modern developments in kitchen design, including reduced plinth heights and the TIP-ON touch opening system, together with specialised utility room furniture providing a myriad of clever storage solutions.

Much of our business comes via word-of-mouth recommendations from happy clients. We’re proud of our reputation and our customer ser vice is second to none , for which we were awarded the Best of Houzz Client Satisfaction Award.

Did you realise that many of the green spaces in your local area have been planted by social enterprise and charity Cultivate London? With support from the public, they provide training and work for those with less opportunity than others. Brentford based community activist Sara Ward, who is one of their trustees, writes about the work they do. Page 6 Les McCallum is a lifelong birdwatcher and artist. He combines both pursuits, drawing and writing about the birds he sees around his home in Isleworth. At this time of year he’s happy to see small warblers called Blackcaps, feasting on his Calicarpa bush. See his exquisite drawings on page 8.

Artists At Home, the Open Studios held every year in Chiswick, Hammersmith and Shepherd’s Bush, celebrates 50 years this summer. As far as they are aware, they are the longest running Open Studios of this type. Pages 10 – 11

Chiswick House is celebrating 300 years of design this year. Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington, came back from his Grand Tour and started creating the gardens in 1719 with the introduction of the deer paddock and the ‘ha-ha’ (a dip in the landscape which stopped animals roaming without an ugly fence or wall spoiling the view) but the house was not built until 1727. This year the Gardens will be awash with spring flowers as head gardener Rosie Fyles looks to re-establish a historic

walkway running through the centre of the estate, edged with spring flowers. Pages 12 – 13

The Kitchen Garden at Chiswick House will reopen in March, welcoming community groups to learn about food cultivation and nutrition. Page 14

The head gardener at one of west London’s other great houses, Osterley Park, gives their tips on what we should be doing in our gardens at this time of year. Page 16

A new footbridge has been opened at Dukes Meadows in Chiswick, running underneath Barnes Railway Bridge and continuing the Thames Path so walkers no longer have to make a lengthy detour inland to complete their journey. Built on the bed of a tidal river, not only is it a feat of engineering but a beautiful design. Pages 18 – 19

The spring line-up for Jazz at George IV sees some favourite musicians returning and some new ones performing at the Boson Room for the first time.

If you like Blues & Soul and traditional New Orleans jazz, check out who is playing. Pages 24-25

out&about is the local community magazine for Chiswick, Osterley, Brentford and Isleworth. It is distributed to 8000 homes and businesses.

Promote your business by advertising in out&about at affordable rates.

And it’s chick time at Hen Corner. The best time of the year to visit. Page 26 Bridget

Editor: Bridget Osborne

At Oxygen we’ve structured our Toddler Sensory sessions to help your toddler develop mentally, physically and socially. Supervised by our highly enter-trained team at Oxygen’s indoor activity park. These sessions are packed full of fun.

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BOOK WITH US NOW

LET’S Cultivate

in West London! By Sara Ward

If you walk around our local area, enjoying the fresh air and green spaces, chances are that the hardy plants and spring flowers about to bloom have been planted by local social enterprise and charity, Cultivate London.

With the aim of improving the natural environment, and helping communities engage in their green spaces, recent projects have included planting wildflower meadows on both Turnham Green and the South Acton industrial estate, whilst skaters (and BMXers) enjoy the planting at Acton Skate Park.

“The introduction of wildflowers, trees and recycled timber benches within the industrial estate has increased the amount of people stopping and relaxing in the local area and stopped it from being a dark and intimidating space.” Local resident.

As well as creating pocket gardens for all to enjoy, they run not one but two Community Gardens, DIG in Hanwell and the Salopian Garden in Isleworth, where individuals, families, larger groups and schools can come and get their hands dirty.

“This was a really fun way for the students to get involved in the community. It was great to see all the students busy planting and sowing seeds. It will be fantastic for the students to see the fruits of their labour once the plants have grown.” Inclusive Learning Tutor, West London College.

Their big aim is helping to ‘green’ London; whether that is working with local councils to develop and maintain public & amenity spaces, with housing developers to make the best use of their ‘meanwhile’ spaces, or with schools and other commercial organisations to bring as much sustainable green space to their urban environment as possible. They are certainly achieving that and more. Last year saw Cultivate London recognised as the prestigious winners of The RHS London in Bloom Award receiving ‘Outstanding’ in the category ‘It’s your neighbourhood’.

As well as investing into the community and the environment, at the heart of Cultivate London, woven into all that they do, is providing training and work for those with less opportunity than others. Their landscaping services provide a great environment for apprentices to learn, while raising funds to support the other programmes.

With lots of experience under their belts, the team at Cultivate London are now available to support local residents to get their gardens and outdoor spaces ready for the new season. When you appoint Cultivate London, you invest into all the other projects, making our area greener for everyone to benefit.

For more information, or to request a quote, go to cultivatelondon.org

OUR FAMILY HELPING YOUR FAMILY

For over 240 years, eight generations of the Lodge Family have been privileged to help local families in their time of need. We provide all funerals, whether modern, traditional, green or alternative, with care and compassion.

“As soon as I spoke to Jacqueline I knew she was the right person to support me through the funeral. I went with my gut and never regretted it. Nothing was too much trouble. I felt totally supported and guided through the process and amazingly felt like it was a friend holding my hand.” - Ms J

Robert, Chris, Andrew & Michael Lodge

WINTER warblers

Les McCallum

I am enjoying the company this winter of a small warbler that comes and feeds on our Calicarpa bush.

The bird in question is a Blackcap, a small bird that just a few decades ago would never have been seen here in the UK in the depths of winter, as it was regarded as a summer visitor only. Climate change was thought to be the reason why this attractive bird had started to over-winter but research has found that while the summer birds have returned to Spain, these winter birds have travelled south from Germany and the simple reason is because we in the UK provide plenty of food on our bird tables.

The Blackcap will feed on insects, berries, fat-balls and bird feeders.

Getting back to the Calilicarpa bush, also known as the Beauty Berry bush, it produces clusters of bright purple berries. Five years ago as a keen birdwatcher I was delighted to see a male bird on this snow covered bush. Minutes later a female appeared and both eagerly fed on the berries.

To my amazement another male flew in and chased both of them off, keeping all the berries to himself.

Every year they have returned to the same bush and sometimes it’s a Blackbird that will chase them away. They creep back only when the Blackbird has gone.

What do they look like? Well the name is pretty descriptive for the male bird - a soft grey sparrow sized bird with a jet black crown or cap; the female, grey - brown with a rust red cap.

Keep your eye out for this most welcome addition to our winters.

ArtistsAT HOME

Celebrate their 50th anniversary

Artists At Home celebrate their 50th anniversary this year. Chiswick is blessed with many artists and it is a lovely thing to wander around over a weekend in the summer in and out of people’s homes and studios looking at a vast range of styles of work.

Within three square miles, between Brook Green and Strand On The Green, Uxbridge Road and the Thames, there is a surprising diversity of artists – painters, sculptors, ceramicists, photographers, print-makers, textile and fashion designers, jewellers and glassworkers.

The origins of Open Studios

The tradition of ‘Open Studios’ dates back to 17th Century Paris in the modern era where aristocratic French ladies presided over salons hosted in their huge drawing rooms.

In the 20th century the trend for sharing intellectual ideas in public forums was taken up by the Beat Poets, with Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg at the fore, and Andy Warhol’s ‘happenings’ at The Factory in New York, which attracted artists, writers, musicians, and underground celebrities.

The post war era in Britain saw an ‘outbreak of talent’, as surrealist painter Paul Nash described the modernist painters he taught at the Royal College of Art, who coalesced as a group which became known as the Great Bardfield Artists, led by Edward Bawden and Eric Ravilious.

They showed their work in the Essex village, attracting national and international attention and becoming the first example of an Open Studios in Britain.

Mary Fedden and Julian Trevelyan, who started Artists At Home in 1973

Artists At Home was started in west London in 1973 by Mary Fedden and Julian Trevelyan, who lived at Durham Wharf on the river at Chiswick Mall. On the 30th anniversary of Artists At Home Mary Fedden (then 88) wrote:

“We never realised we would be starting a local tradition. We had been asked to open by Hammersmith and Fulham Council, who enticed us with a £5 grant for tea and biscuits. Much to our surprise the day was a great success … and gradually more and more artists joined in the scheme”.

Mary Fedden OBE studied at the Slade School of Fine Arts, London from 1932 to 1936 and developed her own style of flower paintings and still lifes, reminiscent of artists such as Matisse and Braque.

Julian Trevelyan RA read English Literature at Cambridge and studied art in Paris, where he found himself working alongside artists such as Max Ernst, Oskar Kokoschka, Joan Miró and Pablo Picasso. He is considered to have made a major contribution to Surrealism in Britain and was an influential teacher at the Royal College of Art in the 1950s.

Trevelyan moved in the same circles as Edward Bawden and Eric Ravilious. Both artists had lived in Hammersmith in the early 1930s. Trevelyan bought Durham Wharf in 1935. He also overlapped with Edward Bawden at the Royal College of Art. Bawden taught there between 1930 and 1963 (except for the years of World War II). Trevelyan taught there from 1955 to 1963. It is likely that he was aware of the Open Studios at Great Bardfield.

The tradition Mary Fedden and Julian Trevelyan started in west London is, as far as Artists At Home can tell, the oldest one of its kind still surviving. Cambridge Open Studios started the following year, in 1974, Brighton and Hove’s Artists Open Houses dates from 1981 and Oxfordshire Art Weeks has been going since 1982.

“Excited to be 50”

In the 21st century, the open studio focuses on the creative act of making and sharing, and Artists At Home has become a much more democratic organisation.

Last year the organisation had 83 members who took part at 66 locations across Chiswick, Hammersmith and Shepherd’s Bush and nine artists showed their work online only.

“We are excited to be 50” says Kathryn Davey, Chair of the Artists at Home Steering Group.

Carol Greenway

Roz Wallis

Peter Thornborough

Jane Price

Felicity Gail

Spring bulbs at Chiswick House

CHISWICK HOUSE & GARDENS CELEBRATE 300 years YEARS OF DESIGN

Chiswick House & Gardens are one of W4’s finest assets. Definitely something to shout about. But when? That is the question. They are 300 years oldish. The formation of the gardens was well under way before the Palladian house was built in the late 1720s and the whole process took over a decade.

Chiswick House Trust has decided to make 300 years of design “a loose theme” in 2023 rather than a definitive all-singing, all-dancing anniversary, and have just appointed a curator whose job it will be to explore that theme over the coming year.

The eighteenth-century travel writer John Macky wrote in his journal A Journey Through England in familiar Letters from a Gentleman here to his Friend abroad about “What is Curious” in the counties he visited, which included Middlesex.

He wrote in 1714 that Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington, was “a very hopeful nobleman” who “hath a good Taste in Painting and Gardening.”

Ten years later he noted the nobleman had fulfilled his potential. Writing about the earl’s gardens at Chiswick he says:

“The whole Contrivance of ’em is the Effect of his Lordship’s own Genius, and singular fine Taste.

The building of the current Chiswick House was not started until 1727 but by 1723 the gardens were well under way and beginning to take shape in the way we might recognise them today.

The ha-ha and deer paddock were created in 1719, the deer house added in 1720 and three of the earl’s antique marbles brought to Chiswick in 1722.

The stone lions were added in 1738; the Classic Bridge not until 1774.

Chiswick, created by Richard Boyle and William Kent, is acknowledged as the birthplace of the English Landscape Movement, and influenced gardens from Blenheim Palace to New York’s Central Park.

A jewel of West London

A carpet of spring flowers

There should be a spectacular display of spring bulbs this year, as November saw the planting of one of the Garden’s biggest planting initiatives in recent years, with over 35,000 bulbs planted.

Head Gardener Rosie Fyles, who joined Chiswick House & Gardens from Ham House in February 2022, is taking inspiration from the heritage site’s 300 years of garden design. She is endeavouring to reestablish the historic central axis, a walkway running through the centre of the estate, a fashionable concept that originated in France in the 17th Century.

Rosie hopes to achieve this by planting over 15,000 bulbs in the borders either side of the Kitchen Garden entrance path. This particular route will be visible from the impressive linked central path which runs through the formal Italian Garden and Conservatory and which, in the 17th century, would have stretched right to the River Thames.

At time of writing the conservatory is currently closed, but the Trust says it will have the central dome open again in March, in time for the public to catch the collection of heritage Camellias in blossom.

Conserving the Camellias

Rosie and her team of volunteers have been planting up the Garden’s shrubbery with historic varieties of Camellia propagated from specimens originally housed in the conservatory. Planting them outside is an attempt to future-proof plants for generations to come, as Camellias do better outside, especially as climate change is making the temperature under glass too hot for them.

Talking about planning her first spring season at Chiswick, Rosie said:

“Planning for my first full spring is all about bringing new colour, different textures and long flowering for pollinators and people.

“With the unique historic context of mature trees and historic walls, this bulb planting on scale will be part of a vivid celebration of the Gardens. I am also taking the opportunity to plant as many varieties as possible of our conservatory camellias outside, where long-term, they will thrive in predicted climate changes”.

Nick Raikes

Steve Anderson

Anna Kunst

Ljubima Woods

Anna Kunst

Anna Kunst

THE kitchen garden AT CHISWICK HOUSE

Beyond the iconic ornate gates and red-brick walls is the beating heart of Chiswick House & Gardens. A hive of gardening activity and a thriving community space, the 17th century Kitchen Garden today serves as an outdoor classroom for local schools and groups, providing access to invaluable nature-based and creative learning and a haven for vulnerable people and family groups.

Since 2021, the Kitchen Garden community programme has helped 5000 people, often from vulnerable and marginalised groups, to learn about food cultivation and nutrition, whilst improving their mental and physical health and general wellbeing. Thanks to funding from The Linbury Trust, underrepresented people from the Hounslow community have benefited from cooking classes using garden produce, creative workshops with local artists and hands-on gardening activities.

What’s more, over 50 local gardening volunteers

regularly support the Chiswick House & Gardens team in an industrious year-round programme of planting and harvesting to produce an incredible bounty of organic fruit and veg. New for 2023, Chiswick House & Gardens aims to donate at least as much produce as it sells to ‘Surplus to Supper’, a local charity that distributes nutritional fresh produce to those who need it most, via food banks, schools, care homes and shelters across the borough.

The Kitchen Garden is open to the public ThursdaySunday, 11am-4pm from 16 March.

Day tickets available, or for unlimited free entry, and to support projects like ‘Surplus to Supper’, become a Chiswick House & Gardens Member. chiswickhouseandgardens.org.uk/membership

Produce and flowers will be on sale at a new location in the Conservatory when the Kitchen Garden re-opens. Check website for opening times. 10% discount for Members.

Kitchen Garden spring re-opening

Over 15,000 bulbs in bloom

Open Thursday–Sunday, 11am–4pm, from 16 March Tickets from £2.25. Members go free.

chiswickhouseandgardens.org.uk

“A little paradise in London” – visitor comment

HEAD

Gardener’s

Andy Eddy, Head Gardener at Osterley Park & House, writes

“One of the very first plants that brings us joy in the garden each year is one of the smallest and most demure – the snowdrop.

Galanthus nivalis – to give it its correct name –although hailing originally from other parts of mediterranean Europe is now so naturalised in this country that we think of it as a naturally occurring wild flower. There are many types, species and cultivars of these little bulbs and at this time of the year galanthophiles – plant geeks basically – gather all over the country on their hands and knees gazing delightedly at their latest treasure – in fact some of the rarer plants can sell for up £2000 each!

Not only is it one of the most beautiful and graceful of plants it is also one of the toughest and easiest to grow, in fact with a little help a small collection of these bulbs can, over a few years, grow into a large colony producing a wonderful effect at the very beginning of the year.

The best – and easiest – time to propagate these bulbs is directly after flowering a technique that is known as ‘in the green’ due to moving and splitting whilst they are in full growth and when the leaves are bright green - straight after flowering. Just gently loosen the soil underneath a clump with a garden spade or trowel and once lifted out of the ground gently tease apart the bulbs and replant in your chosen spot. In fact these bulbs ‘clump up’ so well that it is always advisable to replant as single bulbs as they will soon grow into large flowering groups (those in the accompanying photo were planted singly only eight years ago here at Osterley!). As this technique is so universal you will always find pots of these bulbs in your local garden centre that can be bought quite cheaply and then split up to make a wonderful display for many years to come.”

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/osterley-park-and-house

This season take time to listen to the birdsong, build a den in the woodland, stroll amongst the daffodils, or spot the spring bulbs bursting into life across Osterley's peaceful parkland.

nationaltrust.org.uk/osterley-park-and-house

NEW WALKWAY UNDERNEATH BARNES RAILWAY BRIDGE

Chiswick School steel band and dancers accompany Hounslow’s Mayor and Council Leader and Chiswick councillor John Todd to open the walkway.

A good crowd turned out to see the new walkway under Barnes Railway Bridge at Dukes Meadows formally opened by the Mayor of Hounslow, Councillor Raghwinder Siddhu, Council Leader, Shantanu Rajawat and Chiswick Councillor John Todd on Friday 13 January.

The project, which has been five years in the planning and construction, has involved the Council, architects Moxon, construction engineers Knights Brown, engineering and construction consultants Currie and Brown and COWI, specialist steelwork fabricators McNealy Brown, Network Rail and the Port of London Authority.

Council Leader, Shantanu Rajawat, said it represented’:

“a fantastic collaboration and cross-party cooperation, especially from Cllr John Todd” and showed “a great deal of perseverance.”

“I think it’s marvellous, a real triumph of engineering to improve access for the community. It’s a real jewel in the crown for Hounslow and I am delighted to open it.

“I would like to pay tribute especially to Cllr Todd & Cllr Curran [former leader of Hounslow Council] for getting it off the ground.”

The walkway means walkers no longer need to take a 500m detour inland to get around the railway bridge to continue a walk along the river. The path makes access inclusive to more users, providing

Dukes Meadows walkway

at Dukes Meadows

better-lit and safer access to wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and those with pushchairs. It also provides new access to Dukes Hollow, a small but important nature reserve with a natural tidal foreshore featuring a variety of waterside flora, which is home to two nationally rare snails. It is a peaceful spot where you can forget you are in the middle of a huge conurbation.

The organisers were lucky with the weather. Chiswick School steel pan band and performing arts dancers entertained the assembled crowd in bright sunshine, after a couple of days of torrential downpours, the evidence of which was still to be seen in the large puddles in the car park of Chiswick Rugby Club.

Choreographed by the school’s Head of Drama and Creative & Performing Arts Coordinator, Tommy Robinson, the dancers filtered out from among the

crowd to do a couple of set piece dances, before skipping off towards the walkway, leading the crowd Pied Piper style along the footbridge for their grand finale at the end of the walkway.

“We built this city on rock and roll” blared the PA system. Actually that might have been easier than building the footbridge on the bed of a tidal river, the level of which alters by several metres as the tide comes in and out, severely restricting the hours the engineers could work.

The main span of the new bridge was brought upstream on a barge from Tilbury docks last July. Engineers floated the structure in at high tide and then, as the tide receded, the span settled on its foundations.

The bridge is one of the lowest carbon and most environmentally conscious bridges in the UK, according to its designer.

Chiswick School steel pan band

Chiswick School performing arts dancers

Cllr John Todd on the new walkway

Council Leader Shantanu Rajawat, second left; Cllr John Todd centre, with Mayor of Hounslow Cllr Raghwinder Siddhu

Dukes Meadows walkway

COFFEE BREAK

Anagrams Quiz

The following are all anagrams of the names of British actors and actresses. Can you identify them?

1. Basil Ride

2. Lardy Mango

3. Jaunty Regent

4. Ritual Jewels

5. Screen Annoy

6. Shrapnel Fine

7. Blander by Then

8. Monaco Swill

9. Gammon Retreat

10. Gnome Pigs

Down

See page 27 for answers!

VALENTINE BREAKFAST Scones

From Laura, private chef, supper club host, cake maker and cookery tutor.

Prep 15 minutes

Cooking 15 minutes Serves 10

INGREDIENTS

225g self raising flour sifted

1 tsp baking powder

60g butter cut into cubes

25g caster sugar

1 large egg beaten

100 ml full fat milk

2 satsumas zest only

50g dark chocolate chopped into small pieces

Recipe Notes

These scones freeze well and if s erving the next day, warm in the oven for 5 minutes before serving.

www.howtocookgoodfood.co.uk

METHOD

1. Pre-heat the oven to 200 degrees.

2. Place the flour, baking powder and sugar into a bowl.

3. Add the butter and rub into the flour mixture using your hands, until it resembles breadcrumbs.

4. Add in the zest and chopped chocolate.

5. Whisk the egg in a measuring jug and add in the milk.

6. Pour this into the dry mix and stir it well.

7. Turn out the dough onto a floured work surface and knead lightly.

8. Shape and pat the dough into a circle (2cm thick) using hands not rolling pin as this keeps the air in the mixture

9. Cut out scones and re-roll the dough to use up all the mixture.

10. Brush the scones with milk.

11 Place the scones on a baking tray lined with baking parchment.

12. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes until golden brown.

Watermans

West London’s living room.

Join us to see great films, live shows and exhibitions and discuss it all at Guru, our unique bar and restaurant serving the best in drinks and Indian dishes. In the cinema, take advantage of our cinema Winter Warmer offer which runs from Monday – Wednesday every week with tickets for any regular screening on those days at just £6. Get in! In the gallery see the latest new media exhibition. Data Dating. What does it mean to love in the Internet age? How are digital interfaces reshaping our relationships?

For Families:

14 – 16 February

The Nosy Little Troll

Deep in the heart of the Norwegian Forest live the trolls – big trolls, tiny trolls and a Nosy Little Troll who has an amazingly sensitive nose… Join us for this funny Scandinavian story starring a tasty brown cheese song, a lost goat and a bushy old troll with green fingers. Garlic Theatre hold their young audience spellbound

with wonderfully crafted puppets, live music and lots of joining in. For children 3 – 8 years.

Friday Nights Live:

3 February, 8.30pm

David Hoyle’s

Ten Commandments

Following his smash-hit Diamond, David Hoyle comes to Watermans with Ten Commandments, combining his captivating stage performance with lacerating social commentary.

10 February, 8.30pm

BioPower

Farah Coppola and Betal Özay

BioPower is an intimate storytelling performance which unveils the beautiful moments but also the darker struggles of a relationship. It’s a labyrinth within a labyrinth style performance. While two storytellers act out the ideal couple, their relationship on stage is strongly tested.

£6 WINTER WARMERS MONS TO WEDS*

*THIS EXCLUDES ANY SPECIAL EVENT CINEMA

An independent cinema showing the latest film and festival releases with great value tickets. Check out what’s on at watermans.org.uk

Jazz AT GEORGE IV

With the weather hopefully turning for the better, ‘Jazz AT the George IV’ is springing into musical action with some more stunning shows over the months of February and March.

We kick off the month of February on Wednesday 1st with the much-travelled saxophonist Greg Davis (former band leader of the marvellous Henry’s Pencil & a regular performer at the Cannes

Film Festival) with his swinging trio including Chiswick resident and noted double bassist Sandy Burnett together with special guest vocalist the wonderful Vanessa Rose.

Thursday 9th February sees the legendary lead singer and front man Keith West and his new band playing a stylish repertoire of soul tinged blues and rock classics and originals with a twist.

The much-feted singer and pianist Tim Penn returns with his funky Blues & Roots outfit The Second Line on Thursday 16th and the month ends on the 23rd with some explosive soul and more from the 9-piece Soulfunks on Thursday 23rd.

March begins with some new musical blood with Canadian vocalist Dom Durner and Italian guitarist Giulio Romano’s

Larry Pryce

Buy tickets from Eventbrite. Search for jazz at George IV.

Keith West Band

Bourbon & Blues Dom Pipkin

Trio Manouche

Tim Penn & The Second Line

‘Bourbon & Blues’, an exciting mix of Blues & Soul with a touch of Motown on Thursday 2nd followed by the brilliant pianist and raconteur Dom Pipkin and his dynamic “Smokin’ Boogie, Bad Boys & The Big Easy’ showcase of the music and history of New Orleans on Thursday 9th. Thursday 16th sees Sam Kelly’s Station House’ featuring the internationally famous drummer Sam Kelly, the 4-piece band’s blues based ‘groove’ sound being further

enhanced by soul and British funk influences.

On Thursday 23rd we welcome back the UK’s leading Gypsy Jazz & Swing ensemble, Trio Manouche along with some very special surprise guests whilst on Thursday 23th we have those perennial boogie-woogie and rock n’ roll favourites The Fallen Heroes to complete our exciting line-up for the months of February and March.

THE CHISWICK Calendar

The Chiswick Calendar is a local website which tells you what’s going on in our area on a day to day basis. Beautiful photographs by local photographers - Page per day listings of what’s on, constantly updated - Interesting videos - Our own events. Subscribe to the weekly newsletter and get a free club card, giving you access to deals and discounts from quality local businesses.

Go to www.thechiswickcalendar.co.uk

Fallen Heroes

Sam Kelly

Soulfunks

Greg Davis

Hen CORNER

As the days start to get lighter, we can look forward to more sunshine and new opportunities. I didn’t get much time at the allotment last year, so number one on my list is to put in some time there. I want to make sure we grow all the vegetables needed for several big batches of our award-winning Garden Piccalilli. Our little town of Brentford is continuing to be developed with more and more homes and we hope these will soon be occupied by new residents keen to join in with local groups and the wider community. To help with this, and to encourage us all to live a little more sustainably, we are delighted to see the growing popularity of the Brentford Clothes Repair Cafe (find them on Facebook) and the new opportunities to get involved with growing food at the Eco Garden at St Paul’s Church.

If you’d rather be in a kitchen than the garden, we have loads of great courses coming up offering skills in baking and artisan food production - bagels, sausages, English muffins, cheese, traditional Italian pasta - we invite you to try your hand at something new.

Have you got a young Bake-Off fan at home? If so, in half term, we are bringing back our popular Baking Together course especially for children and their grown-ups, baking bread, tarts and cupcakes. So whether you want to pull on your wellies or pop on an apron, there are many opportunities to roll your sleeves up and try something new!

Regular readers will remember we hatched some chicks for Easter last year. They were a big hit with local families and have grown up to be real beauties. One of them had beautiful platinum

white feathers and on the Jubilee weekend we decided to name her Lillibet. This year we are looking forward to welcoming families again for Easter at Hen Corner where, after making hot cross buns and Easter crafts, we can hug Lillibet, her sisters and the other chickens here at Hen Corner.

UPCOMING COURSES:

Baking Together

15th February

Baker’s Dozen

21st February

Sausages Making

28th February

Cheese Making 8th March

Pasta Making 14th March

Easter Baking 29th March

Easter at Hen Corner

8th April

Rolling your sleeves up, Sara Ward

1. Idris Elba

5.