Around Ealing Spring 2014 | Page 8

UP FRONT Big clear-out Thirsty selection The council legally enforced the removal of 15 tonnes of rotting rubbish and waste from the rear garden of a Greenford home, which included flammable gas bottles, car parts, broken lawnmowers and a dead animal. Before This action followed complaints about safety and fire hazards from neighbours – and after several requests from the council to clear the land were ignored. It culminated in an ‘untidy land’ legal notice being issued that gave the owner two months to comply, which was also ignored. The house owner was charged for the cost of the clearance, which totalled £15,000. The Ealing Beer Festival is back between 2-5 July in Walpole Park, with more than 300 varieties of real ale, perries, foreign beers and English wines. The festival will be open from 12noon daily, until 10.30pm each night (6pm Saturday). Entry is £4. Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) members receive a discount of £2. You must be 18 years old or over to enter and those under 21 will require proof of age. See pages 24-27 of this magazine for more on the Ealing Summer Festivals – or read more about Ealing Beer Festival at www.ealingsummer.com After Pitch for park Be a zookeeper Would you like to get up close to a porcupine, or pamper a pig? How about cooking some treats for some monkeys? There is an exciting opportunity to become a zookeeper for a day and see behind the scenes at the award-winning Brent Lodge Animal Centre in Hanwell. The centre’s expert zookeepers are offering to take you under their wing for four hours, on Thursdays and Saturdays in July and August. It costs £50 per person and could be the wildest time you have ever had. For details, email [email protected] or call 07956 362 341. A new artificial turf pitch forms the final part of a £2.2million makeover of the sports ground at Spikes Bridge Park in Southall. It also features a new pavilion, and cricket training nets. Local sports charity and football club, London Tigers, has taken up a lease of the pavilion and fields and will host its football fixtures there – from juniors to adults. Southall Community Alliance will also use the pavilion to provide courses, information evenings and social events. Visit www.ealing.gov.uk Armed Forces Day Ealing Council has joined with local RAF troops to mark national Armed Forces Day with a parade that will finish at Greenford Carnival. The parade on Saturday, 28 June will include 562 Transport Squadron, which is based at the TA Centre, in Southall. The squadron was given the honorary title of Freemen of the Borough by the council last year. Press the play button to watch a film 8 around ealing Summer 2014 After marching through Greenford, they will put on a display at the carnival, in Ravenor Park, and will also be running a stand, with the council, promoting Armed Forces Day.