TK Maxx Greenford

The William Hobbayne Community Gardens are the result of transforming derelict land beside the Grand Union Canal, one Hume Wharf, into 55 mini growing spaces for local people to grow their own fruit and vegetables and as use as community space. In 2012 the William Hobbayne Community Gardens Association, and a self-managing site committee was voted upon. Bee keeping was established in 2013. In 2014 the hard work putting together the Community Gardens and its ongoing use and development was recognised when it was awarded a 'Highly Commended' Ealing Civic Society Annual Award. This award is in acknowledgement and recognition of the positive and beneficial contribution to the amenity of the London Borough of Ealing. The William Hobbayne Community Gardens and its Association remain active in growing, using the site for community use and also expanding the wildlife credentials to now include two wildlife ponds, bugs runs, dead-hedges and orchard areas. The William Hobbayne Community Gardens border the Grand Union Canal in Hanwell, Ealing and much detritus is found on the paths of the canal; often also making its way into the Community Gardens. We have a monthly Saturday Social where growers/volunteers assist in the maintenance of the gardens and we would like to extend this to the area bordering our gardens and the canal. A grant would allow us to buy trigger Litter Pickers, Bins and gloves to extend our activities onsite and dispose of plastics and other rubbish in an environmental manner. A tidier canal path for all users: whether walkers, canal users, cyclists or those with less mobility. A knock-on benefit would be the reduction of plastics and other rubbish making their way down the canal; where it would up in the Thames a few miles downstream. Additionally, a decrease in the amount of rubbish blowing/moving onto the Community Gardens would alleviate the time spent in clean-up detritus allowing more time for growing and general maintenance of the William Hobbayne Community Gardens.