Clearing The Way

Moving to a new area is not always easy but Egor and Elena took a creative approach to get to know their neighbours better. They found a space not far from their home in Northolt which would be perfect for small parties and barbeques – it just needed a bit of TLC and some imagination.

Cluttered with beer cans, dumped furniture and home to a rat infestation it was not an easy task but they knocked on their neighbours’ doors and got some help. Together the neighbours cleared the rubbish and got rid of the diseased trees replacing them with beautiful flowerbeds and donated garden furniture. Egor made use of his carpentry skills and built a gazebo and a shed and slowly the once unloved space came to life.

Since completing the project, the new group of friends have been busy using the space and keeping the area litter free. Lynn, who also helped with the clear-up, said: “Before this lovely couple moved in, most of us elderly residents kept to ourselves. But this project has helped us create new friendships. The garden has become a special place for all of us, a little green haven for us to be together and enjoy each other’s company.”

" Before this lovely couple moved in, most of us elderly residents kept to ourselves. This project has helped us create new friendships" - Lynn

Related Articles

Volunteer Mentor in Local Schools

Ready to make a positive difference to the lives of young people in your community? 

Searching for an impactful volunteering opportunity that works around your schedule? 

Ealing Anchor Foundation supporting parents and carers

Ealing Anchor Foundation is a charity providing information, support and advice to parents and carers of children aged 0-5 years, who are differently abled and living in the London Borough of Ealing.

Heartlink Ealing

Heartlink Ealing is an organisation created to help and involve heart patients in Ealing, Southall, Greenford and across West London.

Breaking Barriers

Breaking Barriers offers one-to-one employment support enable refugees in London to acquire the knowledge, confidence, and experience they need to secure stable and fulfilling employmen…

TYS2 Piggeries Orchard

The TYS2 Piggeries Orchard project is an initiative to transform an inaccessible and overgrown plot of public land into a publicly accessible community orchard and wildflower meadows,…

Ealing i-Tree – Volunteer Tree Surveyor

Trees for Cities, in partnership with Ealing Council, Treeconomics, the Greater London Authority and the Forestry Commission, will be gathering data to quantify the structure, ecosystem services, and calculate the value of all public and privately owned trees in the borough.

People ConneX Northolt project

We’re bringing new community activities, friendly spaces and volunteer opportunities to Northolt. Come and be part of it!

Cultivate London Ltd

Cultivate London is an independent social enterprise and charity.