Brent River Park 50th Anniversary – Programme of Events
29th June 2025
Churchfields Recreation Ground, Hanwell, London W7 3BN
Here is the running order for our 50th anniversary event. You can also download it as a printable PDF here.
Performances
Performances throughout the day include:
- Northfields Morris Dancers
- Bluebell Flower Stilts
- Maypole Dancers
- Mad Hatter storyteller and White Rabbit
Programme of events
EVENTS MEETING POINT; ALL WALKS AND TALKS BEGIN AND END AT THE CHURCHFIELDS BAND STAND; What3Words ///saints.loudly.mini
| Starts | Ends | Event | Info |
| 08.45am | 10.30am | We Run Ealing – A social and chatty run! Two options – either a 10k run lasting between 50-70 mins, or 15k run lasting 90 mins. Run leaders will act as guides, supervising different pace groups. (led by Tom Kerry) | Sports (Adults) |
| 12.00pm | 1.30pm | Clean Up the River Brent (CURB) Walk, ending in a sensory sketch of the river – A guided walk of the river that refuses to die! Followed by a sensory hands-on workshop using clay, ink and wire to create an immersive portrait of the river as a vibrant living presence. (led by Ben Morris, BRP Trustee & artist Becky Lyons) | Nature / Arts (Family) |
| 12.00pm | 1.00pm | Tree and Nature Interest walk to FitzHerbert Walk – See trees in a way that you have never seen them before and discover how wildlife and us rely on them (led by Local Naturalist, John Wells) | Nature (Adults) |
| 12.00pm | 1.00pm | Litter-ature – A creative writing workshop inspired by the things we throw away. Litter sadly can be found everywhere, a broken cup, a discarded tent, a 30 yr old crisp packet. But does rubbish have a story we can tell? (led by Vivien Boyes) | Arts (Adults) |
| From 12.00pm | Until 5.00pm | Millennium Maze’s 25th Birthday– “Animals in Wonderland” kids craft activities and some Mad Hatter and White Rabbit Tea Party fun! (led by The Art Box, Mad Hatter Storyteller & White Rabbit) | Arts (Family)Taking place at Brent Lodge Millenium Maze near Hanwell Zoo. |
| 1.00pm | 2.00pm | Drawn to Nature – drawing in the park – A relaxed session where we’ll slow down, look closely at quiet wonders and sketch the beauty of nature. No experienced required, just curiosity! (led by Hazel Atashroo) | Arts (Family) |
| 1.00pm | 1.20pm | Ealing’s Awesome Animals – Discover the wildlife on your doorstep and how you can help it thrive! From teeny-tiny to bigger beasts, this adventurous talk will take families on a journey of wildlife discovery. (led by Natasha Gavin – Boston Manor Park Education Officer) | Wildlife (Family) |
| 1.30pm | 1.50pm | Championing Green Spaces – Safeguarding commons, greens and paths for future generations to enjoy – (Kate Ashbrook, Open Spaces Society) | Nature (Adults) |
| 1.40pm | 2.10pm | Mad Hatter Storyteller at the Millennium Maze! – Comedy kids’ storybooks told by the funny Mad Hatter! (led by Graham Trelfer) | Arts (Family) |
| 2.00pm | 2.20pm | Nature’s Architects: how beavers are reshaping Paradise Fields – Enjoy the remarkable return of beavers to our local landscape and discover how these industrious mammals are creating wetland habitats and boosting biodiversity right here in Ealing (led by Dr Sean McCormack, Ealing Wildlife Group) | Wildlife (Family) |
| 2.30pm | 3.00pm | BRENT RIVER PARK 50th ANNIVERSARY GRAND REVEAL – The Mayor of Ealing unveils our new History Sign, with short inspirational speeches, the ‘Big Five!’ Fundraiser official launch and crowd photo. (Located opposite the Band Stand, on Churchfields Recreation Ground) Led by the Brent River Park charity. | Celebration (Family) |
| 3.00pm | 3.20pm | Brent River Park Wildlife by Night – A unique opportunity to learn about and observe our nocturnal animals. Looking at a fascinating personal natural history collection – showcasing the creatures that come out while we sleep! (led by Natasha Gavin – Boston Manor Park Education Officer) | Wildlife (Family) |
| 3.00pm | 4.00pm | St Mary’s Church – Experience ringing one of the bells, visit the crypt, light a candle, put a prayer on the prayer tree and take part in children’s activities | (Family) Please visit the church |
| 3.00pm | 4.00pm | Nature Interest Walk to Greenford and back! – Discover the wildlife of our urban countryside & the various species & plants that live alongside us (led by Local Naturalist, John Wells) | Nature (Adults) |
| 3.30pm | 4.30pm | Reimagine bringing Brent’s waterways to life – Creative writing workshop exploring movement & memory by reimagining Brent’s waterways (led by MA students at UCL, Boats Bring Bonds project) | Arts (Family) |
| 4.00pm | 4.40pm | History Walk: Heroes, Villains and Fools – A gallop through the park’s history and some of the characters who have shaped it (led by Steven Toft, BRP Trustee) | History (Adults) |
| 4.00pm | 4.30pm | Ealing’s Night Shift: A guide to the borough’s bats – Discover the fascinating world of the flying mammals that call Ealing home, from where they roost and what they eat to how you can help protect these remarkable creatures (led by Dr Sean McCormack, Ealing Wildlife Group) | Wildlife (Family) |
| PLUS! Visit the Brent River Park Marquee for fascinating owl pellet dissections with, Laura Bacon. Come discover the beautiful hidden wildlife of the Brent River Park that you might miss otherwise with, Rowan Watkins. Creative writing with writer, Vivien Boyes. Nature drawing with artist, Hazel Atashroo. Local history with historian, David Blackwell. Brent River Park campaigns Warren Farm Nature Reserve and Clean Up the River Brent and more! | |||
EVENTS MEETING POINT; ALL WALKS AND TALKS BEGIN AND END AT THE CHURCHFIELDS BAND STAND; What3Words ///saints.loudly.mini
Health and Safety Notices: Children must be always accompanied by a responsible adult. Participants take part at their own risk, and the organisers cannot accept liability for any accidents or injuries.
The First Aid Point is located near the Brent River Park Marquee
STALLS
| Local Artist Stalls |
| Victoria Williams |
| Steve Haskett |
| Ben Finch |
| Maria Sawicz-Kotowska |
| Lewis Campbell |
| Kirstin Campbell |
| Peter Filbey |
| Brent River Park Friends’ Stalls |
| Brent River Park Charity / Warren Farm Nature Reserve / CURB, Clean Up the River Brent |
| Ealing Wildlife Group |
| LAGER Can |
| Boston Manor Park |
| Ealing Friends of the Earth |
| UCL – Boats Bring Bonds Project |
| Ealing Parks Foundation |
| Friends of Perivale Park |
| Hanwell Zoo |
| The Art Box |
| Open Spaces Society |
| Food Vendors |
| DL Events Catering |
| Pippa Martinson Cakes |
| Hanwell Zoo Cafe |