The view from Hillingdon
Billy Coburn
Hillingdon Project Officer
The Hillingdon project is now in it’s 9th month, and I have to say a huge thank you to everyone who has volunteered. The project has been a great success because of you! A diverse group of volunteers from all backgrounds and between the ages of 4 and 70, have helped collect 184 bags of litter, plant trees, test the water, and remove many large items including beer kegs, shopping trollies and tyres from our canals.
A family fun day with free canoeing courtesy of Hayes and Harlington District Scouts and free boat trips with the West London Floating Classroom was held to introduce the project and highlight the amenity value of our waterways. The day was also a chance to recognise the project’s first photography competition winner, Jenny Dowsett. The second photography competition is now open now and closes on July 7 . Once again the prize will be a £50 Amazon voucher.
This Thames21 project aims to engage the Hillingdon community in improving the Grand Union Canal between the Yiewsley and Hayes and Harlington where it is most neglected.
The future is also looking bright; the first Thames21 education events with local primary schools are under way, and lots of exciting events are planned, including the Summer Canal festival in Yiewsley on Saturday July 21st and of course many community clean up days.
This project is funded by the Hillingdon Community Trust, a grant making charitable trust. The Hillingdon Community Trust funds local charities which help improve, inspire and promote community cohesion in the borough.
For more information on the photography competition, the project or anything waterway related in Hillingdon, please get in touch! billy.coburn@thames21.org.uk.
Thank you again to all of the volunteers who have participated and had such a positive attitude towards Hillingdon’s waterways. I hope to see you soon at an event soon!
Best regards,
Billy