Across the borough’s parks, the temperature is starting to drop, and as the leaves turn, it’s getting a little wetter. Although I’m sure we have a way to go to make up for this summer’s five droughts. 
 
Recent months have been busy but productive for EPF. Since we were awarded £20,000 by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, projects at South Ealing Cemetery have begun in earnest. We can confirm a large bid for restoring the chapel buildings themselves has now been submitted to Historic England, and an expression of interest submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund, so we hope to share more news on the outcome of these bids in due course. 
 
During Ealing Climate Week, by the South Ealing entrance and around the war memorial, volunteers dug and planted two climate resilient beds of drought resistant and pollinator friendly plants, designed to ensure an attractive display despite our changing environment. We’re extremely grateful to all our volunteers who helped, this was by no means an easy task given how solid the ground has been and the weight of the pea shingle they were being planted into! 
 
In mid-September for the second year running, the chapels and Victorian section of South Ealing Cemetery welcomed visitors for Open House Festival, a chance for anyone, local or otherwise to visit and see inside the chapels, the workings of the clock and chime, and join a military history tour and nature walks. 

Our partnership with our friends Natasha and Ian from Boston Manor Park has also kicked off, with a full programme of events planned for all ages and interests, from family friendly nature encounters to practical tasks in the grounds to create more nature friendly features. Follow our Eventbrite page for a full schedule of what’s planned. 

Looking for local spooky activities this Halloween? We’ll be opening the cemetery gates and chapel doors with a creak at 11am sharp for the Halloween craft market and open day. Between 11am and 3pm there’s a variety of activities including guided history and nature walks, the Wandering Fox market, a pop-up cafe run by Bossa Nova, and a special Halloween bat walk for families from 3-4.30pm. 
 
Guided walks include tours of Commonwealth war graves at 11.30am and 2.30pm, a nature walk at 12.30pm and a bilingual Polish heritage tour at 1.30pm, exploring the lives of military figures, a spy and a former prime minister buried at the cemetery. 

Unfortunately, it’s not all good news, no doubt you will have heard about the proposal for a temporary theatre positioned inside our beloved Walpole Park, for a 3.5 year period. EPF are actively working with several groups to demonstrate the level of local opposition to this plan, we set out in our recent statement which you can read here. 
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