Help to build a bug hotel or take an informative tour of Hillingdon Council’s community garden centre as part of a new London-wide festival celebrating health and nature.
The Rural Activities Garden Centre on West Drayton Road in Hillingdon, is hosting the events as part of the Happier Outdoors Festival which runs across the capital from Monday 18 to Wednesday 27 March.
On Mondays through to Fridays, at 9.30am and 2pm there will be hour-long sessions to build a giant bug hotel that will permanently reside on the site once complete. The event is suitable for all ages and attendees can help with the design, collecting materials and construction of the hotel.
Anyone interested in volunteering or work experience at the centre is also welcome to attend daily guided tours, from Monday to Friday, at 11am and 2pm where they can meet the staff, see all the plants and animals on site and find out about the various opportunities on offer.
Other activities taking place across the borough as part of the festival include orchard and volunteering sessions at Cranford Park (23 and 27 March) and a Mindful Walk at Eastcote House Gardens on Monday 25 March.
The Happier Outdoors Festival is being delivered by charitable, grassroots and government organisations across London, in partnership with Natural England, the government’s advisory body on England’s natural environment.
Cllr Eddie Lavery, Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services said: “We’re committed to creating a greener future and key to that is enabling people to connect with nature and the outdoors.
“There are proven benefits to people’s health and wellbeing from spending time in nature and in a borough like ours with lots of green space there are plenty of opportunities to experience those benefits.
“We’re delighted to be hosting events for the Happier Outdoors Festival and once people visit our fantastic garden centre, I’m sure they’ll return.”
To find out more about these and other local events and activities across the borough visit discover.hillingdon.gov.uk.
