Events - 2022
Tree-Dressing - Saturday 26th November 2022
Once again we were blessed with good weather for our annual tree-dressing. This year was our biggest event ever: over 100 children from five schools – Warrender Primary, Coteford Infants, Field End Infants, Lady Bankes Primary and Grangewood School – took part. Each school brought a choir and entertained us with festive songs. The Worshipful the Mayor of Hillingdon, Cllr. Becky Haggar, led the dressing of the tree. The huge number of children and families in attendance made sure this was a very special community event.
In the Stables, there were lovely crafts and also tea and cakes for sale. A raffle and Teddy Bear Hunt made sure there was plenty to do. We owe an enormous thank you to everyone who helped before, during and after the event to make it such a success: our tea stall helpers, our very talented craft team, raffle sellers, Teddy Hunt organisers, outdoor stewards and Audrey on the baubles and table decorations!
Two very special awards were also made: the Hinman Shield (sponsored by Forget Me Not, Eastcote) – for young people’s involvement in community work – went to the 4th Eastcote Scouting Group; and the Community Shield (sponsored by Joan and Terry Butfield) was presented to Richard Dalling.
As you can see, our historic yew tree is now adorned with hundreds of Christmas decorations – but there is still room for many more. Visitors to the park are welcome to add another bauble whenever they visit the Gardens.
To view the photos below please click on the image and then use the arrows to scroll through them.
London in Bloom 2022
Once again The Friends of Eastcote House Gardens win the jackpot… Top marks in all categories!
Congratulations to the Friends for their unstinting devotion to the Gardens, which makes them a delight to visit for residents of all ages. Here are details of the awards, with a quotation from each report.
- Walled Garden – Gold and Category Winner, which means our Walled Garden is the best in London!
The walled garden is very deserving of being in the gold category (…) All involved should be very proud, as the work they have undertaken has been no small task. - Park of the Year – Gold
Eastcote House Gardens is a truly beautiful site…the Prairie Garden looked stunning during my visit. - Our Community [Volunteer award] – Gold
Since The Friends of Eastcote House were formed in 2008, they have turned a once derelict site into a beautiful place to visit. - It’s Your Neighbourhood [Volunteer Award] Level 5 – Outstanding (equivalent to a gold award)
There is an obvious passion for the site history, heritage and wildlife which is inspiring to see. - Royal Horticultural Society – National Certificate of Distinction [Volunteer Award]
Chris Groom receives the Walled Garden of the Year bowl.
A bumper crop of top awards!
Tracelink Software Company – Tuesday 13th September 2022
On Tuesday 13th September Tracelink, a worldwide software company with an office in Uxbridge, sent a team of 12 volunteers to help in the gardens at Eastcote House. They were a great help to the regular volunteers: the jobs they carried out included planting bulbs and emptying the compost bins. We are very grateful for their help, and are pleased that they enjoyed their day. We look forward to welcoming them back on another occasion.
Beavers' Visit – Wednesday 21st September 2022
On Wednesday 21st September, a group of children from the 4th Eastcote Beaver group visited the Gardens. Their first job was to clear up the many crab apples which had fallen from the trees behind the Walled Garden. Armed with grabbers, they set to the task with gusto, eventually filling 5 wheelbarrows. After this, they collected a range of natural materials from around the Gardens – including conkers, acorns, cut grass and fallen leaves – and created natural works of art. The children had a productive and enjoyable evening. Many thanks to the adult helpers from both the Beaver group and the Friends of Eastcote House Gardens for their help.
Eastcote Horticultural Society Autumn Show – Saturday 10th September 2022
The Autumn show this year had fewer entries than in previous years possibly due to the unusual weather. However, for the FEHG team it was a great success with 24 exhibits entered which included some apples from both the Jubilee and Old orchards and we were awarded the following:
6 x 1st Awards
7 x 2nd Awards
6 x 3rd Awards
A Gold medal diploma certificate for the highest points in other flowers
A big thank you to the team who picked the flowers on Friday and staged them on Saturday morning: Sue Place, Jane Neave, Linda Wells and Janet Green.
Fuchsias in water
Herbs in 3 vases
Roses
Eastcote Horticultural Society Summer Show – Saturday 11th June 2022
The summer show was a great success for FEHG with 31 exhibits entered and awarded the following:
12 x 1st Awards
7 x 2nd Awards
5 x 3rd Awards
The Hurford Rose bowl for the highest points in rose classes 1 – 11
We were also awarded 2 Best in Show rosettes. One for a Class 1 Rose, specimen bloom (pictured below) and one for a bunch of herbs (pictured below).
We were also presented with:
- Silver medal diploma certificate for the best rose bloom
- Gold medal diploma certificate for the highest points in the vegetables class (herbs come under the vegetable section)
- Silver medal diploma certificate for the best exhibit in the vegetables class
A big thank you to the team who picked the flowers on Friday and staged them on Saturday morning: Sue Place, Jane Neave, Linda Wells and Janet Green.
Class 1 Rose
Specimen Bloom
Class 50
Perennials
Class 59
Bunch of Herbs
Platinum Jubilee Fete and Picnic - Saturday June 4th 2022
After a wet and miserable morning, the sun came out to welcome everyone to our first summer fete for three years – and what a wonderful time we had! We were proud to welcome our honoured guest – Representative Deputy Lieutenant for the London Borough of Hillingdon, Bruce Houlder CB QC DL, who officially opened our new Jubilee Bench. We also welcomed the Mayor of Hillingdon, Cllr Becky Haggar, who was accompanied by the Mayor's Consort, her husband Mr Marios Kaikitis.
Highlights of the afternoon included the Dog Show, which donated all funds raised to the PDSA; the tug of war; ferret racing; live music from two jazz bands; not forgetting the wonderful teas and cakes.
The stalls run by numerous local voluntary groups added to the fun of the day. Huge crowds came along, and it was wonderful to see so many families still enjoying their picnics in the park after the Fete was over. It all added up to a fantastic community event – thank you to everyone who attended, and a special thank you to all the volunteers and donors who helped make the day such a success.
To see the larger versions of the photographs from the day, please click the thumbnails below.
Eastcote Horticultural Society Spring Show – Saturday 12th March 2022
What a relief to have a real touchy, feely show again! The hall was filled with glorious colour and scent and the event was attended by the Mayor of Hillingdon, Cllr. Roy Chamdal.
The Friends team put forward 33 entries and were awarded the following:
- 7 x First (including the two shown below)
- 10 x Second (including one in class 15 below)
- 5 x Third
- 2 x Highly Commended
I would like to thank Jane Neave, Janet Green and Linda Wells for their contribution in picking and staging.
The show was so well attended when it opened to the public in the afternoon that they ran out of cake!
Sue Place
Pictures - left to right: Class 29 - vase arrangement; Class 15 - Tazatta type; Class 5 - small cupped
