Minet Country Park - A Rocha

cleaner Southall and Hayes
working towards a greener,
A Rocha Living Waterways
is a community based project working towards
a “greener, cleaner Southall and Hayes”.
We want to help people to enjoy the places
where they live by being involved in looking
after them.
So far the team and volunteers have been
involved in:
❋ Minet Country Park
The formerly derelict 90 acre site between
Springfield Road and the A312 Hayes by-pass
was transformed into a much needed country
park, owned and managed by the London
Borough of Hillingdon. A Rocha Living Waterways
works with the council to involve local people in
the care and appreciation of this valuable site
before after
❋ Southall Sustainability Forum
A community led forum working to improve and
manage the local environment for all
❋ Education Programme
Environmental education activities linked to the
National Curriculum for local schools at Minet
Country Park; assemblies, after school ‘Wildlife
Watch Clubs’ and summer holiday play schemes
❋ West London Floating Classroom
A partnership to create a ‘floating classroom’ on
the Grand Union Canal
❋ Regular Events
Environmentally based activities (ranging from
art & craft to nature walks) for all ages at Minet
Country Park
❋ SHARE
A community newsletter raising local
environmental awareness; obtainable from local
libraries, schools, places of worship.
Why not check out the A Rocha website www.
arocha.org.uk
A Rocha Living Waterways
13 Avenue Road,
Southall,
Middlesex,
UB1 3BL.
If you are interested in finding out more about
A Rocha, volunteering or being involved in our
work contact the A Rocha Centre on 020 8574
5935 or email us at uk@arocha.org
Point (access for walkers, bicycles and pushchairs).
BS - Bus Stop, S - Stile (access for walkers only), EP - Entry
Key:
(Showing access points & bus stops)
Map of Minet Country Park
How to get involved
You can help & volunteer in many different ways:
❋ practical conservation tasks
❋ DIY
❋ database entries
❋ helping out at school clubs
❋ art
❋ cooking
❋ sending out A Rocha mailings
❋ gardening
❋ nature surveys
“I like to be a part of the wildlife environment
club because I feel that I can learn valuable skills
and gain experience.” Sarla Shah
You could also:
❋ join in our regular events at
Minet Country Park
❋ discover the wider benefits of
being an A Rocha member
As a charity we would welcome donations
from individuals and businesses to support
this important work.
Since then A Rocha has developed on an
international scale caring for God’s creation
through conservation research leading to the
restoration of natural environments and through
education programmes for all ages.
A Rocha is a Christian conservation movement,
working with people of all faiths and none, whose
first project began in 1983 in Portugal. ‘A Rocha’
is a Portuguese word (meaning “the rock”).
A Rocha UK is itself part of the International
conservation organisation A Rocha International.
is the first project of A Rocha UK which began in
2001.
A Rocha Living Waterways
How are we doing?
‘I feel A Rocha is hitting absolutely the right note
when it comes to engaging the local community,
particularly young people, in appreciating and valuing
the natural environment which surrounds us.’
Janpal Basran, Community Development Manager,
Southall Community Alliance
‘A Rocha has been the pivotal organization in assisting
my local community develop our new community park
on the Minet site. Drawing upon the expertise, hard
work and commitment of A Rocha we have been able
to bring this project to fruition… I wish to commend A
Rocha for its contribution to my community.’
John McDonnell MP for Hayes and Harlington
‘In the past I’ve done volunteer work with other
organizations. A Rocha has been different: very good
people and I’ve felt part of the team.’
John Keaveny, local volunteer
‘Our continuing partnership with A Rocha has enabled
all members of the school community to deepen
their understanding and appreciation of the local
environment as a source of creative inspiration.’
Anita Puri, Head-Teacher of Blair Peach Primary, Southall

Green Team
Do you like being outdoors and getting active? If the answer
is’ Yes’, then Green Team is for you! We are a group of
people who give our time on the first saturday of the month
to do practical jobs at Minet Country Park. Our activities vary
according to the time of year—you could find yourself making
hay, clearing paths and brambles, planting trees, clearing
reedmace (bullrushes) from the pond, etc. Don’t worry if
you’ve never done this before - everyone works at their own
pace under the guidance of a trained leader who tells you
everything you need to know. Don’t worry if you can’t stay
the whole day.
Minet Lodge
Minet Lodge is open every
afternoon – timings vary
according to season, and
are displayed on signs at
the park. The Community
Liaison Officer can be
contacted on 07989 307461.
Private Hire can be arranged
through the A Rocha Living
Waterways office.
Minet Country Park
Minet Country Park, owned and operated by
the London Borough of Hillingdon was opened
in 2003. Hillingdon’s Green Spaces team
manages the park for local people and for
nature conservation assisted by A Rocha.
Be a Volunteer Warden
Serve your community at Minet Country Park! - we need you to be our eyes and ears and to care for the
park in a way that encourages wildlife and people. Join this volunteer scheme and receive training to help
us maintain the park. You can also join the Community Liaison Officer to monitor wildlife and carry out
surveys. This could help you to gain confidence and increase your knowledge of the local environment.
Interested? Give the Community Liaison Officer a call on 07989 307461.
Wildlife Guides
A series of guides on the
wildlife of Minet Country
Park are available for
purchase at Minet Lodge.
Make the most of your
visit and follow the
Nature Trail!
Events
A Rocha Living Waterways organises
regular events at Minet Country Park.
These popular events have included ‘Art in
the Park’ and ‘Nature Walks’. Full details
of forthcoming events can be found on our
website. If you would like to receive an
Events Leaflet, please contact the A Rocha
Living Waterways office and ask to be put
on our mailing list.
Wildlife
More than 110 species
of bird, 23 of butterflies
and 15 of dragonflies
makes this a special
place for nature
enthusiasts.
Park Land
Entrances
Conservation areas
Car Park
1
Friends of Minet Country Park
The Friends help to ensure the ongoing enhancement of the park for the benefit of the local community.
From January, regular meetings will be held on the second Monday of every other month, from 7pm at
Minet Lodge. Membership is open to all who have an interest in Minet. Please contact the Secretary, Robin
Brown for further details, tel: 020 8569 0010.
Cycle Track
2 Minet Lodge
3 Play Area
Adjoining green areas
Landscaped
Adjoining residential/
mounds
industrial areas
Waterways
Surfaced paths un-surfaced paths
Hillingdon Cycle Circuit
At just under a mile round, this purpose built circuit has to be one of the
borough’s most exciting sports facilities. There are several senior clubs you
can join as well as Hillingdon Slipstreamers for under 16s. Other
organisations using the track include the London Nordic Ski Club and
Middlesex Athletics Association. For the Hillingdon Slipstreamers Club,
contact Pauline Why on 020 85818565, www.slipstreamers.co.uk. For general
information on activities at the track, call Stuart Benstead on 020 87377797 ,
email stuart.benstead@virgin.net