News and Events

Ealing Common revealed

As part of the Open House London weekend, Ealing Common Society is holding its guided tour of the Common on Saturday, 14th September.

It starts at 2.00pm from the small common at the corner of Inglis Rd and Hanger Lane, A406 (by the train sculpture, close to the railway bridge). Highlights of the Common, its history and the buildings around it will be covered during the walk, which lasts for about an hour, ending at All Saints Church in Elm Grove Road, where tea and refreshments will be waiting.

The walk is free, and everyone is welcome. Light rain won’t put it off (thunderstorms might).

June 2024

Replacing the Horse Chestnuts

You may be aware that the horse chestnut trees are gradually becoming more diseased. They suffer from advanced canker bleeding which weakens the wood. This has been known for some years and in anticipation of them dying, rows of young trees – not horse chestnuts - were planted about 10 years ago, inside the outer border of the Common. Most of these trees are doing well.

We are told that horse chestnuts come from northern Greece. Young horse chestnuts, if planted in the UK, do not thrive and do not reach maturity. It is not economic, or advisable to replace our horse chestnuts with more of the same.

The tree officer has identified seventeen sick or dying trees on The Common. Some already do or could present a risk to road users and the public. The Council proposes to reduce or remove these trees and replace them with sixty-nine trees of different varieties such as limes, hornbeams, cherries and Scots pines, similar to the three Scots pines on the South Common. Some of the trunks will not be removed, but will remain as monoliths to encourage wildlife.

Funding for this work comes from Section 106 money paid by developers in the borough.

The reduction work will start in May and should be finished by August. Planting will begin in the autumn. There are huge numbers of trees to plant across the Borough and it is hoped to complete the work by the spring of 2025.

We will meet the Tree Officer in the autumn to learn more about the planting proposal.

April 2024

Social gathering

Spring is in the air despite the rain and it’s time for our ECS members' social gathering.

We look forward to seeing many of you for a private-led tour of St Matthew’s Church, North Common Road on Saturday 27th April at 11am followed by a chat over coffee/tea and biscuits. Our famous Ealing Common cards will also be on sale at bargain prices (cash only).

Please bring along any friends and/or neighbours who may be interested in joining ECS. Membership details will be available on the day.

We do hope to see many of you there.