Come to the Harmondsworth Xmas Event THIS FRIDAY!!!

Poster by Olive Morris award winner- Missbadchild

Date:

Friday 16^th December 2011

Time/ Location:

Bulb planting for spring, 2.30pm-3.30pm, Harmondsworth Recreation Ground

Decorate the village christmas tree, light the lights, christmas songs, hot drinks and mince pies, 3.30pm-4.00pm, Harmondsworth High Street, UB7 0AQ

Communities in crisis

The riots over the summer put things into perspective and highlighted the need for community spaces. For me, the riots served as a very harsh reminder of the lack of tight-knit community in our country.

It was sad to see those cases where looting and rioting spread to local community shops, because of the realisation that those involved didn’t feel they were attacking their own community. This is important because it means they don’t share any ownership or have any relationship to their local community in the first place. This surely needs to be addressed before putting lots of people in prison.

In Leeds one day this summer, a group of people gathered to discuss the theme of ‘Communities in Crisis’. The aim was to explore from a variety of perspectives and contexts how and why communities develop qualities of self-reliance, resilience and empowerment in times of crisis. The discussions formed part of a research project led by Paul Chatterton, a lecturer at Leeds University who runs an MA in Activism and Social Change, which is attempting to understand contemporary communities within the dynamics of crisis.

It is now widely accepted that we are currently facing a time of converging crises – a climate crisis, peak oil, and an ever deepening financial crisis. The ‘Communities in crisis’ project defines crisis as “a crucial or decisive point or situation, a moment of ‘creative destruction’ where the dismantling of old infrastructures creates a space for social innovation.” The present moment in UK society, characterised by austerity cuts following a major crisis of capitalism, is creating crises for many communities. However, although lots of people are struggling and being hit hard it’s not all doom and gloom. These moments of “creative destruction” give opportunities for people to discover new ways of being and new ways of claiming power over their everyday lives. Many communities are starting to do this – according to the ‘Communities in Crisis’ research project – “seeking out of necessity or intent, new coping mechanisms based on greater resilience, self-help and participation.”

An Occupy LSX banner on the steps of St Pauls Catherdral

The Occupy movement which continues to grow both globally and in the UK after the occupation of an old disused bank, are leading the way by opening the space for important discussions that need to take place. But what happens when these moments of convergence end? What steps do we take next when we go back to our own communities? This is something which the Climate Camp movement failed to work out and this is where in my opinion long term and sustainable community organising is a necessity.

Starting up a Transition Town has got to be one solution but there are others too. Squatting in the middle of a housing crisis makes sense when there are over 700,000 properties lying empty across the UK. Social centres, info-shops, community gardens – anything which offers an alternative space for communities to gather in times of crises is going to be useful heading into the future. These spaces also build excitement – an excitement that shows we can organise differently.

'Grow Heathrow' photo campaign

On a very basic level this is one of the things we are trying to do with Transition Heathrow. Grow Heathrow – a squatted community garden space, is at its heart a community experiment in action. Everything that happens at Grow Heathrow is an experiment and we are always trying and learning new ways of doing things and new ways of relating to each other. We might not get it right all the time but what is most exciting is the creation of new ways of organising.

Our participation in a ‘Fireworks and Fun Day’ event recently, organised in one of the local Heathrow Villages, may at first appear unrelated to our goal of “building resilient Heathrow communities, capable of collectively coping with the injustices and threats of climate change and peak oil”. However this would be to miss the essential connectedness of our various aims. Events such as these which bring communities together couldn’t be more essential for building resilience and we had a great day with our local community hosting a conker championships and planting up bulbs on the village green. And without strong local communities, we cannot develop the grassroots solutions necessary for combating the global challenges that we face.

This blog was taken from the Transition Network website as part of their social reporting pilot project.

A Fun Day in Harmondsworth

Last Saturday saw Harmondsworth host a celebratory day of village life. A crowd of around 350 people turned out in the bright autumnal sunshine to enjoy the activities put on by local community groups, including Transition Heathrow.

Our contribution to the day saw us hosting a conker championship on the village green in front of the Five Bells pub, which saw a persistent stream of young contestants engage in a bout of conker-swinging action. Usually, the key to victory is to pick the right conker, and many of ours proved to be particularly resilient since they had been in storage for over a month, which was plenty of time to season the center to the point where it could take some serious punishment. The result of most fights ended up being determined by the string breaking before the conker.

Another activity that proved to be extremely popular was the planting of bulbs on the green, as overseen by Joe throughout the afternoon. The bulbs (from Ansells Garden Centre) were varieties that were especially selected to complement the area, and for their ability to thrive naturally. Come spring, the planted bulbs should bloom to produce a colourful floral arrangement at the heart of Harmondsworth.

Elsewhere the Com.Cafe crew were keeping the kids entertained in their usual inimitable way, Kingsley from Hayes FM was knocking out tunes and compering, the Five Bells barbeque was delivering tasty burgers, Groundwork Thames Valley’s Spots and Stripes team was on hand with a range of giant games, a raffle was held by local Sipson resident Danny with prizes donated by local business and Mallow the miniature pony was on hand to offer rides.

Jane Taylor from HASRA who was running the Heathrow Village Life stall said of the day “This is fantastic – it’s great to see people coming out of their houses and meeting new friends and neighbours. This is just what we needed.” It was also good to see the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress ofHillingdon and John McDonnell MP present to support the event. The incredible turnout of families and obvious enjoyment was topped off with a spectacular twenty minute fireworks display on the recreation ground after sunset.

None of this would have happened without the contribution of a wide range of people from the Heathrow Villages, but especially the hard work and dedication of Kate Birch, our local Community Development Officer. There’s no doubt in our minds that the event was an unqualified success, and we look forward to helping out with whatever Kate comes up with next.

For some more photos of the day, see our Flickr set.

Harmondsworth Scout Group message of support

Heres a message of support which we especially like from the local Harmondsworth scout group co-ordinator.

Just wanted to drop you a note to say thank you for all of the help that you have given us over the past year.

The allotment has been harvested and we shared our produce with not only the children’s families but also the local community. Your expertise and enthusiasm was a god send. The wildlife pond is thriving and we now have all manner of creatures visiting, the children are so proud of it and they relay the story of it’s construction to any one who is willing to listen!

We are delighted to see that you have been awarded the right to stay for the near future at Grow Heathrow. The difference you have made to the community has been immeasurable and we only wish that there were more people like yourselves willing to protect the land, the vulnerable and the community.

As you know it has been a very difficult year for many of our children as they have had to watch their friends move away and the security blanket that the community threw around it’s children has been pulled away with so many residents, young and old, leaving the area.

There has however, been one friend, a new one, that we have grown to love and respect and it is Grow Heathrow whose volunteers have been able to look these children in the eye and say we won’t leave you. The confidence you have instilled in our children has meant that they can look to the future and they now understand that with the right guidance and commitment the Villages can still be their homes and provide the safe environment that every child is entitled to grow up in.

We all love visiting Grow Heathrow where the children have learnt so many things and we hope that we can build on this with you in the future. Some of our children live in flats with no gardens so the chance to come down to Grow Heathrow and dig in the dirt is like winning 1st prize for them. And then we have our young teenagers… who, in their sulky, difficult way think you are all cool and it is really refreshing to see them responding to your advise. We have all learnt so much from the centre and you guys have given the children so much, we only hope that things will work out and that you will be able to stay at Grow Heathrow and help further develop the Centre and continue to support the community.

Having grown up in Sipson I remember the Nurseries and all of the activity that surrounded them, to see them fall into disrepair and then be used as a personal dump was heart breaking but nobody had the knowledge of how to stop this happening and then you turned up. You showed us all that we can change things and we don’t have to allow the degeneration of the area to succeed.

If human beings are being abused the law will protect them, if animals are being abused the law will protect them, let us hope that the law will also start to protect our land and stop it from being abused.

Community Power posters

Collaborations by Miss Badchild, Cadi, Alex, Nath, Rob

http://missbadchild.blogspot.com/ http://nisoydealla.tumblr.com/ www.eighteenthirtynine.com

Residents Association support ‘Grow Heathrow’ in eviction threat

PRESS RELEASE: Days before ‘Grow Heathrow’ go to court, which could lead to eviction of the Sipson community garden, residents’ group Harmondsworth and Sipson Residents Association (HASRA) have come out strongly in support of the project.

‘Grow Heathrow’ first took over the former-market garden site on Vineries Close, Sipson, in March 2010 after years of neglect causing social problems in the area. Residents and the Transition Heathrow group cleared up the land removing 30 tonnes of rubbish and began running the space as a community-hub and garden.

The landowner Imran Malik has now decided to take ‘Grow Heathrow’ to court and try to remove the community project. The project is due in court this Thursday. Supporters are being encouraged to show their support outside court at 9.30am.

Harmondsworth and Sipson Residents Association has published a letter defending the Sipson gardeners stating:

“We would strenuously encourage Mr Imran Malik to sell the land to members of Grow Heathrow” and “any attempts to use the site for improper business ventures, as has been done in the past, will receive strong opposition from the residents of the villages.”

The letter added:

“The people involved with this project (Grow Heathrow) have transformed the site. In the process they have created a much-needed community hub for local people who have spent years living under threat of destruction due to proposals for a third runway at Heathrow Airport. Their tireless efforts and support have regenerated enthusiasm for community working that inspires the many people who visit.

Grow Heathrow campaigner Alex Goldsman said:

“We really don’t want to see the land go back to causing the problems it did before. It’s brilliant to get support from HASRA who we’ve been working with the last few years- as well as John McDonnell MP, members of Hillingdon Council and the .ComCafé in West Drayton. We put in an offer to buy the land last year as we really want to make Grow Heathrow a long-term community project.”

ENDS

For more information and interviews please contact: 07890751568 or press@transitionheathrow.com

Notes to editors

•  Grow Heathrow are in court this Thursday 17th November 2011, at Uxbridge County Court, 501 Uxbridge Road, Hayes, UB4 8HL. The hearing starts at 10.30am but supporters and journalists are being encouraged to get down to the court for around 9.30am for a show of support and photo opportunity.

•  The full HASRA letter can be downloaded from HERE.

• Link to photo campaign: http://www.flickr.com/photos/47991844@N06/sets/72157628011759448/

• All photos can be used from our Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/47991844@N06

Defend Grow Heathrow Video

Defend Grow Heathrow! by Joshua Bregman on Vimeo.

Photo campaign launched

Grow Heathrow is in court on the 17th November 2011 facing eviction. We need your support. This is a callout for people to get involved with our exciting photo campaign to support the project.

The idea is to show the story of Grow Heathrow and the communities its been part of over the last year and a half. If you want to help keep Grow Heathrow alive then please send a picture of yourself holding a statement of support to info@transitionheathrow.com

Some images already can be found HERE. And thankyou MissBadChild, who recently won an Olive Morris memorial award, for the illustration above.

Fun fun fun at the Fun Day

On a blustery Saturday morning we set off out the gate and up the road to the community Fun Day at the Com.Cafe. Loaded with pots, plants, paper, pens and plants our prize-winning carnival float trundled off up Sipson Road to the Glebe Estate in West Drayton. We set up under an oak tree, stringing up bunting and soon a shout-out from the hosts brought the first curious children trotting over.

We’d brought along chilli and tomato plants to re-pot and on the art table we drew and cut out flowery crowns. Soon we had a queue of children ready to dig their hands into the bags of compost and take home plants to the window-sills of West Drayton.

After having the Com.Cafe visit us on our site at the beginning of August it was great to be invited to their Fun Day and find out a bit more about the work they do in the community. We loved the performance by the street dance class and wish we were young enough to go along! It was a lovely day, we got to meet lots of families from the local area and hope it’ll mean we’ll see some newcomers at Gardening Club and Crafternoons.

We’ll be back on Thursday for the community showing of new film Just Do It!

Dale Farm is rowdy

Earlier in the week some members of Transition Heathrow visited Dale Farm to show a bit of solidarity. We had an amazing time in what was an interesting visit into a really tight knit community that is often lacking from the rest of Britain. The travellers have just received their eviction dates and need all the support they can get.

Dale Farm is the UK’s largest traveller community consisting of nearly a hundred plots and at its peak over a thousand residents. The site is a former scrapyard and is actually owned by the residents – they just don’t have planning permission to live on half the site. After a wave of anti-traveller laws were passed in the 1990s John Major’s government encouraged travellers to buy land and get planning permission to settle down. However, planning permission is not easily available to traveller communities anywhere. According to the Commission for Racial Equality, more than 90% of traveller planning applications are rejected – this compares to less than 20% of rejected applications for everybody else.

The planned eviction is a form of ethnic cleansing which will result in travellers being forced onto the road and their children pulled out of school. They would leave Dale Farm if they could, but the council have refused to fulfil it’s obligations to provide more traveller pitches.

The most ridiculous part of it all is that £18 million has been set aside to remove the 90 families (about 500 people, many of them children). It is a complete waste of time, money and violence to remove the Dale Farm residents who have done everything they can to find a peaceful resolution to avoid the brutal forced eviction. Spending £18 million on an unavoidable eviction in the current times of austerity measures is indefensible – it is a huge waste of public money that should be spent on supporting, not destroying, communities. Even condemnation from the UN is being ignored.

For all these reasons, the residents have vowed to “fight to the very last” and so they should! They have nothing to lose at this point. Supporters are being urged to come to Dale Farm and get involved with ‘Camp Constant’ to stand with the community. What amazed me in my short time at Dale Farm was the amount of respect shown between the local residents and outsiders who have come in to help them defend there homes. Before we had even reached the front gate we had two sets of families gleefully thanking us for coming to support them.

The police and bailiffs are going to try and start securing the site on the 12th September so try and get down there before if you can to help them build the barricades. There is also a march planned this Saturday from 1pm which people are being encouraged to attend.