Hammersmith Community Gardens Association

HCGA manages 4 community garden sites in Hammersmith and Fulham, a glasshouse in Ravenscourt Park & Phoenix  Farm in White City. We run volunteer programmes for people of all ages and abilities. In addition we work in local schools providing a range of gardening activities. We run environmental play activities, adult education classes & maintenance contracts. HCGA also works in Westminster and RBKC.

Thank you for registering your interest for this HCGA visit to Kew Gardens. One of our staff will be in contact soon to discuss the trip and confirm if you have a space.

Kew Gardens, officially known as the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is a renowned botanical garden in southwest London, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the largest and most diverse botanical collections in the world. Kew Gardens spans 300 acres and features over 50,000 living plants and 8.5 million preserved specimens in its herbarium. It was founded in 1759 and has since evolved into a leading centre for botanical research and conservation. It also has a large playground with a water pump so perhaps bring spare clothes in case your little ones get wet. You don't need to pre-book the playground: https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-in-the-gardens/the-childrens-garden Trip details<ul><li>Trip includes FREE entry for adults and children and lunch for the children.</li><li>Adult lunches are not included.</li><li>Travel fares are not included.&nbsp;</li><li>You are free to stay as long as you like but our staff will leave by 2:30pm.</li><li>Children must be supervised by parents/carers throughout the trips.</li></ul> Where to meetPlease meet at 10:30am outside Tesco Express, 4 Station Parade TW9 3PZ, right next to Kew Gardens station.https://maps.google.com/maps?cid=12507054895946377176 What to bring/wear<ul><li>Kew Gardens is really big so please wear comfortable shoes.&nbsp;</li><li>Dress appropriately for the weather - most of Kew Gardens is outdoors. Rain jacket/umbrella/walking shoes or boots/sun cream/sun hats/warm clothing</li><li>Bring your own snacks and water bottles to refill as the cafes are very expensive at Kew</li></ul> AccessibilityKew Gardens welcomes all visitors and aims to make everyone’s day out successful and enjoyable. The Gardens are largely flat, with tarmac paths in most places. ToiletsThere are unisex accessible toilets within easy reach of all the main attractions, cafés and gates.

Kew Gardens is a renowned botanical garden in southwest London, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the largest and most diverse botanical collections in the world. Kew Gardens spans 300 acres and features over 50,000 living plants and 8.5 million preserved specimens in its herbarium. It was founded in 1759 and has since evolved into a leading center for botanical research and conservation.&nbsp;

Kew Gardens

Thank you for registering your interest in this HCGA event. A member of staff will be in touch to confirm your details and space on the trip..

Join HCGA on a visit to London’s iconic castle and <a href="https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/tower-of-london-world-heritage-site/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">World Heritage Site</a>. Get up close to the <a href="https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/whats-on/the-crown-jewels/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Crown Jewels</a>, meet the legendary <a href="https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/whats-on/yeoman-warder-tours/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Yeoman Warders</a> and <a href="https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/whats-on/the-ravens/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">ravens</a> and see the Tower like never before. Trip details<ul><li>Trip includes FREE entry for adults and children and lunch for the children.</li><li>Lunches for adults are not included.</li><li>Travel fares are not included.&nbsp;</li><li>You are free to stay as long as you like but our staff will leave by 2:30pm.</li><li>Children must be supervised by parents/carers throughout the trips.</li></ul> Where to meetMeet by 10am outside Tesco Express, St Catherine's Way, E1W 1LEhttps://maps.google.com/maps?cid=12788830778399875267 What to bring/wear<ul><li>The Tower of London is very old and so it has lots of cobblestones and narrow, spiral staircases: please wear comfortable shoes and if you can, try to avoid bringing large bags or buggies etc as there are no cloakroom facilities. Try to travel light.</li><li>Dress appropriately for the weather - most of the Tower of London is outdoors. Rain jacket/umbrella/walking shoes or boots/sun cream/sun hats/warm clothing</li><li>Bring your own packed lunches and water bottles as you can't go back outside to buy anything and the cafes are very expensive</li></ul> AccessibilityThe Tower of London welcomes all visitors and aims to make everyone’s day out successful and enjoyable. We are committed to improving access and facilities for visitors with disabilities. However, the Tower of London is an historic building with difficult stairs and passageways and wheelchair access is limited. There are a large number of steps throughout the Tower with cobbles laid in some of the surfaces and pathways and there are some low doorways. Our full colour and comprehensive access guide includes detailed information, help and advice for visitors, which you can find here: <a href="https://hrp-prd.azureedge.net/media/1571/tower-access-guide-2018.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;">https://hrp-prd.azureedge.net/media/1571/tower-access-guide-2018.pdf</a>&nbsp; Wheelchair accessTower of London has a limited number of wheelchairs available for visitors to borrow whilst on site that can be used on a first come, first served basis and cannot be pre-booked. To hire one of these free of charge, please speak to a member of the Tower of London team on arrival. ToiletsToilets are available at the following locations:<ul><li>Brick Tower, behind the Jewel House (male, female, accessible toilets and baby changing facilities)</li><li>Salt Tower (male toilets)</li><li>Cradle Tower (female and accessible toilets)</li></ul> Changing Places toilet:Ground floor lobby of New Armouries building next to the café. Access to the toilet is via radar key. A key can be obtained from café staff, to be returned after use. There are further toilets in the coach park behind the Welcome Centre. These are not run by Historic Royal Palaces and there is a charge.&nbsp;

Join HCGA for a visit to the Tower of London’s iconic castle and <a href="https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/tower-of-london-world-heritage-site/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">World Heritage Site</a>. Get up close to the Crown Jewels, meet the legendary Yeoman Warders and ravens and see the Tower like never before! Entry and lunch are FREE!! Please meet by 10:30am at the Nearby Tesco Express, St Katherines Way, E1W1LE https://maps.google.com/maps?cid=12788830778399875267

Tower of London

Can you swim?

Thank you for booking on the Swimming classes with HCGA

5 Free Swimming Lessons + Free Lunch on the Farm + Nature Play Activities (11am-3pm) <ul><li>On the first day of swimming (Monday 24th August at 11am) your child will take part in a swimming safety lesson and the teachers will assess their swimming ability to decide which slot they will be in for the rest of the week.&nbsp;</li><li>For the rest of the week, swimming slots are 11am-11:30am or 11:30am-12pm (depending on ability) and free lunch at the farm is immediately after swimming.&nbsp;</li><li>Your family can then stay as long as you like taking part in free nature play activities after lunch until 3pm.&nbsp;</li><li>Children must be supervised by parents/carers throughout the swimming lessons and farm visit.&nbsp;</li></ul> Arrive at Phoenix Farm by 11:00am on Monday 24th of August<a href="https://hcga.org.uk/locations/phoenix-farm-in-white-city/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Phoenix Farm in White City - Hammersmith Community Gardens Association</a>

Started in 2007, the farm provides a learning resource for local schools, local community groups and offers volunteering opportunities for local residents. Comprising of glasshouses, polytunnels and a series of beds, fruit and vegetables of all description are produced together with medicinal herbs, plants to attract wildlife, and edible flowers. The site is also home to bees and chickens as well as a wildlife pond.

Hammersmith Community Gardens Association

Trip to Kew Gardens

Trip to the Tower of London

Swimming & Farm visit