Even though these planters look a bit ragged and rugged at the moment, they still bring me that little uplift that one needs when starting a long day of work.

Yesterday was a day at For Earth's Sake, and it was longer than usual. We had an additional meeting in the early evening - a Business Improvement District meeting - so my train back would be late. It's rarely a chore to travel down and visit Vanessa and the team, however multi-sequenced my trek... They're all working so hard to try and do good for the planet, its wildlife, flora and fauna and its people. Nothing to not enjoy being part of, though it is a trek; albeit giving one time to think, as public transport often does.... though more on this another time...

... going back to these planters!

It's early morning and the middle of winter and they're looking a little forlorn. In a few months' time some of this grouping will be flowering and giving up their yellow buds to commuters already weary and worn on their morning commute... I'm sure they are even more of a blessing during their evening trudge back to home! These planters, or rather the plants, are also adding a little fresh air, doing their carbon dioxide and oxygen thing that they do so well. These little green growing places, these oases that we often walk past without a care do lift the spirit, if you let them. I'm forever grateful that there are those willing to care for them; as part of their job or on a voluntary basis of one sort or another.

We had some planters at the top of our road which had "seen better days", sullen palms in them. Not really the ideal plant for this place at the outskirts of London, in my humble opinion... I suppose the council thought "plant a palm and you won't have to worry about it", though the rest of the human detritus that gathers in these planters is the main problem. You see, the issue isn't the palms... it's the people. At one time I thought about taking up the cudgel with these top-of-the-road travesties and doing some guerrilla gardening, though there's already a lot going on in our life and maybe that would've just been a step too far... Anyhow, now they are gone, and the space is more barren... ...

... going back to these planters!!

As I continued my journey to Cranleigh, I had a little outward smile and inward warmth at this little oasis of greenery; positioned awkwardly amidst the rolled steel tracks of railway lines, harsh steelwork hoardings, softening wooden fences, vibrant caution stickers, and the hard concrete, tarmac and slabs of the platforms.

Returning late last night, and passing through the station at a little past 11pm, I glanced over my shoulder at these planters again; through the cinematic little lit pods of travellers of the train as it trundled out of the station.

There they were... unsurprisingly... across on the other platform, in darkness yet lit up by the neon glow on the station. All quiet, and gentle, and resting...

One bus ride home and I would be doing the same.

A Guernsey Gardener in London, Day 23

Urban Greening is something that we don't really notice in our daily lives, though if it wasn't (or isn't!) there, then we see our city environment with a rather grimmer view.  Whilst leaving our local Lidl the other day, I was struck by the beauty of these trees, and how they layer over each other to give depth and a moving perspective of changing hues as I walk.  Yes, a car park and a road; though with the beauty of the trees the space is transformed to something more tranquil. And, importantly, trees help reduce air pollution by removing a variety of air pollutants, including both ozone and nitrogen oxides. 

Life in the London suburbs can be a pain in the backside sometimes. I'm sure some of you remember me talking about building work, noise and pollution in videos on You Tube. Well, I am banging on about it here again! For the past 5 years at least, so many of the surrounding houses in our neighbourhood have had extensions, excavations, summer houses, loft conversions etc. I understand that many people do this as they cannot afford to buy a larger property in the same area, so they extend. Great. I have no problem with that at all. But, when it starts to become an almost constant process that is happening all around you most days, it begins to concern me. There are multiple issues.
Noise primarily - deep, almost subsonic banging noises that reverberate through the walls and the foundations. Goodness knows what is being shaken loose in our old house. I've only just filled the recurrent cracks.  Why, just an hour ago, the wooden chair I'm sat on actually felt like it was attached to a vibrator. Not entirely unpleasant but the accompanying noise didn't add to the experience, and any hope of a cheap thrill was soon quashed.
The dust. Goodness knows what is thrown up into the atmosphere, but we have to keep our windows closed at the mere whiff of a building project, otherwise I can taste the dust.   I cleaned the bathroom last week and where the window had been left open (as we like a good airflow in the house) the area was covered in dark brown dust. Vile.
Skips. The roads in this area always have a good number of skips filled to the brim with builders waste. More often than not, they aren't covered, inadequate lighting on them at night, and the odd drunken person peering out from the rubble. They sit there like ghostly metal boats rusted and battered, filled with so many useful pieces that you have to resist diving in and rescuing that parquet flooring.  I hope all the stuff gets recycled. Where does it go?  A few years ago i reversed into one outside our house - Paul wasn't too pleased and  the car still bears the scar.
Sweary builders. Why is it that many builders seem to need to shout at each other in streams of swear words? I've noticed these are often attached to the tools - for example, a common request might be "pass me the b*****d drill" or "where is the f*****g hammer?" Don't get me wrong, i have a foul mouth too, but I don't tend to shout several variations of vagina across the rooftops in a family neighbourhood. Have a little respect. Or learn some less offensive versions - fanjita is better.
Vans. Oh goodness me - the area is now like a builders yard car park - I'm so not kidding. All shapes and sizes, very often bumped up onto the pavement, completely blocking access for anyone, let alone someone in a wheelchair or disability scooter. Many vans do appear to be of questionable roadworthiness. Indeed, one actually tried to run me off the road by speeding up as I was crossing my street - I got caught on the road as I couldn't actually get to the pavement due to parked cars. I waved my umbrella at him - I said "you were actually going to hit me" He replied with the obvious statement "you're on the road". I pointed out to him that the highway code does state that a vehicle must stop if someone is in the road and as this is a quiet residential street this should be entirely possible. His intelligent response to this was to call me a prick. So my intelligent response was to take a picture of his van and number plate and report him for dangerous driving. 
Deliveries of building materials - really - at 8.30am, completely blocking the road???  People are trying to get to work and psychotic mothers are attempting to drop off their precious ones at the local school - that's asking for trouble. The mothers in this area are a primal force to be reckoned with, especially when in charge of a four by four, which every mother owns. By 8.45am they will kill in order to get little Tarquil and Petunia to school on time. 
I blame the television programmes - Grand Designs in particular. Selling people the idea that their pokey Victorian semi can become a huge amazing modern living space is all well and good. But it's making people greedy for more space. Space doesn't equal happiness necessarily - George Clarke will tell you that. I guess evolution has pushed us to the point where nothing but palatial surroundings with oversized octo-fold doors will do. How do they all afford it? Paul and I would have to go further into massive debt to afford any extensions to our house - the mortgage is bad enough. I thought the age of austerity was about helping people to live within their means - clearly this is a complete myth - homeowners are piling on the debt just for a wet room and an extra loo. On top of that, what is the environmental impact? Are all these building companies using the latest environmentally friendly guilt free materials? I think not.
What also annoys me, is the fact that the local council allows multiple projects to take place at the same time with no consideration for people who occupy their homes during the day. For example, mums and babies, elderly people, the self employed, night shift workers, part timers. Not to mention people with Autism or mental health issues or indeed someone who is ill or convalescing. We are being subjected to the whining aural delights of drills, cutters, saws, thumping booms and sweary men all in glorious surround sound. In fact, if anyone wants to record superb audio of builders noise in high definition, visit Ealing, West London's premier building site.
The council, in my opinion, should arrange for projects to be staggered, so residents are not bombarded and completely overwhelmed by the stressful business of construction. I know that there is currently a campaign in Southall and Hayes against a massive building project that is affecting thousands of people with air pollution. One word comes to mind - greed. More space, more business, more money. Unfortunately this has a habit of leading to unhappier people due to illness, stress and breathing problems which then has a strain on local health services. Mmmm. Joined up thinking left the borough a long time ago. 
I'll keep you posted on next door's project, if I can bring my self to peer out of the window at the utter carnage that is the building site. Four weeks is the target finish date...that'll be a miracle. 
​Yours, not happy of Hanwell. Richard x