
Boston Manor Park
This park is in Brentford, part of the Borough of Hounslow. It has various facilities including tennis courts and a cafe.
There is a natural area at the back of the park sloping steeply down towards the canal which is fenced off here. There is a less steep, well-managed meadow which gives good access to the canal. A wooden bridge crosses the canal to reach the towpath, which can be followed south to Brentford Lock and north to Hanwell and beyond.
There is a downside - the ugly, noisy and polluting M4 motorway which runs over part of the park. Thank goodness the government abandoned plans to build more motorways across London! .
The park has an active 'Friends of Boston Manor Park' group.
Brent Lodge Park
Brent Lodge Park is a 'sister' park to Churchfields, being adjacent to it and having complementary facilities. While Churchfields provides car parking but no other facilities except fine open space, Brent Lodge Park, has a playground, maze, tennis courts, multi use games area, cafe, toilets and even a small zoo.
Because of the zoo it is often called Bunny Park.
For more details, see Ealing Council web site.
Churchfields
This is a municipal park in the heart of the Brent River Park. It is named, we assume, from the fields that used to surround the parish church, St Mary’s.
The park lies in Hanwell between Church Lane and the River Brent, adjacent to Brent Lodge Park.
The park is noted for its open vista from Church Road down to the River Brent, its fine avenue that runs diagonally up to the church and its access to an almost unspoilt section of the river.
There are few facilities in Churchfields itself as these are provided in the adjacent Brent Lodge Park (‘Bunny Park’).
See council web site for information on Chuchfields (and Brent Lodge Park). oc
Clitherow’s Island
This island is located between the Grand Union Canal and the River Brent. It was formed when the River Brent was canalised and a winding portion of the old river was by-passed by a new section of canal. (See also map on Environment Trust web site.)
Elthorne Park
This is the formal park that complements the superb informal area running down to the canal, which is called Elthorne Waterside.
The park has tennis courts, but no other facilities. For information about the park see Ealing council web site.
Elthorne Waterside
This large area stretches from the back of Elthorne Park down to the canal extending both north and south.
The southern part of the area has a playing field and a hard surfaced area for sports. The rest of the area is excellent for walking, with good views and multiple points of access to the canal towpath.
Elthorne Waterside is one of the most important areas for nature conservation in the borough.
Long Wood
Long Wood is one of the Borough of Ealing's very few nature reserves. It is therefore an extra special place for nature conservation and wildlife.
It was second site to be designated as a Local Nature Reserve by Ealing council. (The first was Perivale Wood.)
Long Wood is in the Brent River Park (BRP), but in the latest borough plan (Local Development Framework or LDF) Ealing council has taken Long Wood out of the BRP. Why?? See news item.
Warren Farm
Warren Farm is still under threat. Ealing Council wanted to lease it free to Queens Park Rangers football club for 200 years, but QPR suddenly pulled out. Although Warren Farm is reprieved for now, we do not know what Ealing Council has in mind. For latest see our News page.