Activities, events and volunteering opportunities at Boston Manor Park
Please note more events may be added and to receive an updated monthly newsletter please join our mailing list by emailing bostonmanorpark@hounslow.gov.uk
Major upcoming events in the park and House
- Frankenstein in Boston Manor House (until Sunday 27 Oct) - get in the mood for Halloween.
- ‘A Christmas Tale’ in Boston Manor House (Thursday 12 – Sunday 29 December)- tickets available soon!
- BMP landscapes amongst others at Bonnie Gibbons art exhibition in Boston Manor House (free, until 24th Nov)- do pop in to admire her work (which includes our Activity Trails/Nature Festival artwork)
- Our BMP Christmas Event 2024 will be on Saturday 7 December, 12-3pm: including a big raffle with beautiful prizes donated by local artists, a vibrant dancing display by Trinjan Indian Women’s Group and singing from the Singalong Choir. Activities for families. All FREE to attend and enjoy.
November
Monthly Bird Walk and Survey, Saturday 2, 8.30-10am, meet on the lake platform. Take a leisurely walk around the park to record numbers and species of birds in the park. No experience necessary but bring binoculars if you have them. FREE.
Fitness Fun with Jenny, EVERY Tuesday, from 11am - 11.45am: low impact outdoors exercise class for adults of all ages and fitness levels. The class is generally in the walled garden, with an indoor option available if necessary. Meet near Hub. £3 per participant in cash.
Bootcamp with Andy every Monday (until 9 Dec), 12.15-1pm, meet by sports equipment: aimed at adults with a moderate level of fitness. £3 per drop in session (cash) or £10 for 4 sessions in advance (6 sessions available in total).
Mindful Walk on Saturday 9 November, 2.30-3.30pm, meet by walled garden: enjoy a gentle guided walk with Vanessa through our mosaic of habitats. FREE.
Plant Sale on Saturday 9 November, 12.30-2pm, by service yard: pick up a seasonal bargain of BMP propagated plants, including Geranium, Primula and Magnolia.
Forest Bathing sessions with Elizabeth Howard, Thursdays 21 Nov 2024, 19 Dec 2024, 23 Jan and 27 Feb 2025 from 10-12pm: A trainee Forest Bathing practitioner will be offering 5 x 2hr monthly sessions from October 2024 in BMP. Places limited. If you are interested in attending one or two sessions please see Facebook event for details and email Elizabeth directly for joining instructions before attending a session elahoward@hotmail.co.uk - FREE.
Mosaic making session, Saturday 23, 11am - 1pm, workshop by service yard (secondary aged children and adults): come and make a beautiful mosaic to take home (grouting demonstration provided). Limited places. Book via Eventbrite (£3) or drop in on the day (£5) but only if space permitting.
December
Monthly Bird Walk and Survey, Saturday 7 Dec, 8.30-10am, meet on the lake platform. Take a leisurely walk around the park to record numbers and species of birds in the park. No experience necessary but bring binoculars if you have them. FREE.
Bootcamp with Andy, Mondays 2 & 9 Dec, 12.15-1pm, meet by sports equipment: aimed at adults with a moderate level of fitness. £3 per drop in session.
Fitness Fun ith Jenny, EVERY Tuesday, 11am - 11.45am: low impact outdoors exercise class for adults of all ages and fitness levels. The class is generally in the walled garden, with an indoor option available if necessary. Meet outside Hub. £3 per participant in cash.
Our BMP Christmas Event 2024 will be on Saturday 7 December, 12-3pm: including a big raffle with beautiful prizes donated by local artists, a vibrant dancing display by Trinjan Indian Women’s Group led by Rakhi Sood (www.rakhisood.com) and singing from the Singalong Choir. Activities for families. All FREE to attend and enjoy. Near Hub.
Toddler Woodland Adventure Club, Tuesdays 3, 10, 17 Dec, 10.30-11.45am: Bring your pre-schooler to explore the Park habitats and wildlife with Tash. Sheltered/indoor spaces available and activities will take place both inside and outside. Meet by Hub. £5 per child over 2yrs (accompanying younger siblings are free) per session. Limited numbers. Booking via Eventbrite.
Forest Bathing sessions with Elizabeth Howard, 19 Dec 2024, 23 Jan and 27 Feb 2025, 10am-12pm: A trainee Forest Bathing practitioner will be offering 5 x 2hr monthly sessions from October 2024 in BMP. Places limited. If you are interested in attending one or two sessions please see Facebook event for details and email Elizabeth directly for joining instructions before attending a session elahoward@hotmail.co.uk - FREE.
Winter Walk in our BMP wonderland, Friday 27 December, 11am-12pm, meet outside walled garden: come on an insightful walk through the park to discover the hidden mysteries of winter wildlife. All ages welcome - FREE.
Gardening and Conservation activities
Weekly Gardening and Conservation Sessions, every Tuesday, 10am-12.30pm: meet outside the Service yard/ walled garden. Join Vanessa and carry out a variety of gardening and conservation tasks around the park.
Public Gardening and Conservation session, Saturday 9 Nov, 10.30am-12.30pm and Friday 27 Dec, 1.30-3.30pm: meet outside the Service yard/ walled garden. Join Vanessa and carry out a variety of gardening and conservation tasks around the park - help us plant bulbs and make hedgehog hibernacula. Call Vanessa if running late and we have left the yard, 07816 067883.
Youth Volunteering (14 yrs up), Saturdays 9 and 23 Nov, and 7 Dec, 10.30am-12.30pm, Friday 27 Dec 1.30-3.30pm: Volunteering specifically for young people (14–18-year-olds) with regular sessions for teenagers looking to meet the D of E award 'Volunteering' requirement and all teenagers wanting to volunteer. Meet promptly by Hub. Activities include conservation, gardening and helping run family events/holiday clubs (at other times). Email Tash in advance if you're interested: bostonmanorpark@hounslow.gov.uk
Park Hub Cafe: Our café The Potting Shed, see website: thepottingshed.london is now open seven days a week, 9am-5pm. Food is availble from 9am-3pm. Watch out for their events too.
Boston Manor House events: A Christmas Tale- A Live Radio Play by the Arts Centre, 12-29 December in the State Drawing Room. Tickets available soon. See the What's on - Boston Manor House website for more details.
Self-guided BMP Trails
Go Orienteering Trails
Can you find all the markers (‘controls’) hidden around the park? Learn how to navigate and then find and follow three different (easy, medium and hard) orienteering routes around the park. Download the free orienteering maps.
Strava Running Club
Boston Manor Park’s own running club and running routes (co-created with WE RUN EALING, community based running organisation). See Strave website (BMP2023 is Club on Strava).
BMP Activity Trails 1 (Nature and Wellbeing) and 2 (Get to know the park!). Trail 3 (Wonderful Wildlife) out in October 2024 Half Term- see October events.
Pick up a free hard copy of trails from outside the Hub, or Boston Manor House. Download free copies in English and Polish from and Volunteering in Hounslow Parks | Let's Talk website.
Hounslow (side bar, scroll down the page) and visit the Ealing Parks Foundation Nature trails.
Secret Bird Mosaic Trail
Can you spot our 6 bird mosaics hanging in the woodland (top woodland path, starting near the lake and ending by oak tree by M4 flyover)? You will see a jay, a woodpecker, a sparrow, a robin, a starling and a chaffinch. Mosaics were made by the community and Susie John, a local artist.
BMP Audio Trail: download the Echoes app (free download), search for the trail on the app (starts near car park) and plug into a mindful walk through the park, listening to poetry, music and the sounds of nature. You might recognise some familiar voices and will finish feeling calm and relaxed in the walled garden. QR code in noticeboard for even quicker access.
Corporate volunteering: we’d love to host your team!
We offer bespoke opportunities for teams to spend a day (or a few hours) in the park, working on fun conservation and gardening projects. The day can also include a range of activities such as guided foraging/wildlife walks around the park. Lunch options available from our café and indoor spaces accessible to store personal items and take a break. A donation may be required towards purchasing park resources. Email us to discuss options: bostonmanorpark@hounslow.gov.uk
Do you work in a school or know any teachers?
Please let us know and we can email you our School Workshops programme and give you information about our specific SEND school workshops/work experience programme.
Join our BMP outdoor events and volunteering mailing list: Contact us via email: BostonManorPark@hounslow.gov.uk to receive regular updates on all our outdoor events and activities, including lots of family events in school holidays. Follow and Like our Facebook page @BMPoutdoorevents
