On March 1st 2010 Transition Heathrow members swooped on an abandoned market garden site in Sipson; one of the villages to be completely tarmacced to make way for a third runway at Heathrow.
30 tonnes of rubbish was cleared and over a year later the site has been transformed from a derelict mess into a beacon of community strength and a great example of how to live sustainably on this planet.
The land had previously been problematic for the local community and was often a site of anti-social behaviour before it was virtually abandoned. Traditional Transition Towns often have a strong emphasis on growing your own food, so we decided to incorporate that with a squatted community space where people could come together, and spend time as a community.
The project aims to return the Berkeley Nurseries site back to it’s intended purpose – a thriving market garden that will provide our community with locally produced, organic fruit and veg as well as a venue for new and interesting projects and workshops.
The site is a hub for local residents and environmental activists to share knowledge and practical skills such as organic gardening, permaculture design, bicycle maintenance and wood and metal work. Over the past year and a half the site has played host to a wide range of political gathering for groups such as: Climate Camp, Reclaim the Fields, The Transition Network, No Tar Sands Network, The Kick Nuclear Campaign, PEDAL and many more.
We are also now well on our way to a position of self-reliance. We produce our own food, use solar and wind power meaning we’re completely off grid, we collect water from the greenhouse roofs to feed the plants, fruit and vegetables, we use the rocket stove invention to heat our water and are equipped with four fully functioning compost toilets.
We welcome all ages, abilities and ideas so if you would like to get involved then please come and visit, just give us some warning on the site phone number: 07890751568 or at info@transitionheathrow.com and we will make sure the kettle is on for you.
REGULAR EVENTS @ GROW HEATHROW
Every Tuesday – Crafternoons from 1pm
Every Thursday – Bicycle Workshop starting at 1pm
Every Sunday – Gardening Club starting at 2pm
Video made with love by Just Do It
Directions
From Central London: Travel to West Drayton in TfL zone 6 in 20 minutes by train from Paddington. From West Drayton either take the 222 bus towards Hounslow and get off in Sipson Village or follow the cycle path towards Sipson. Our site is a 1 minute walk from the King William Pub which is in the middle of town.
Full address:
Grow Heathrow, Vineries Close, Sipson, West Drayton, UB7 0JG
