Into the Forest: New Year 2020

It was a walk of great promise: brisk New Year weather, and a big turnout: 25 people assembled at Loughton Station, the most ever. There were Roadies, familiar faces, and new Ramblers altogether (one only five months old). And yet (in the slightly adjusted words of TS Eliot’s Epiphany poem Journey of the Magi) “It …

Autumn 2019: We did it Medway!

Like life itself, this was a walk in two parts: to the pub and back. Or rather, down the picturesque river bank before lunch, back over gently rolling farmland to the station afterwards. In quite lovely walking weather, warm sunshine, big moving clouds, and no rain at all despite the otherwise squally end to September …

High Summer tree gardens 2019

Hollyhocks fare particularly well in our Road, and they are resplendent. As Louise wrote the other day, many thanks to residents who have shouldered the burden of looking after a neighbouring tree garden, taking over from the founding team who started the whole thing many years ago. As Louise puts it: "Beautiful displays, all along …

Trees and gardens in June 2019

Play in our Road! April and May

This is Albe, taking advantage of the first monthly Play Street in Ockendon Road in April. He is riding on a tractor which has been passed from family to family in the Road. It was a sunny, quiet, playful two hours in the Road, with the promise of more to come. Many thanks to the …

No place like Dome: New Year 2019

This New Year Ramble 2019 was chilly and curious, and --curiously enough-- much enjoyed by all. These post festive walks often attract a goodly crowd, and 19 of us assembled bang on time at King George V station, one stop past London City Airport on the DLR. The station is named (of course) after the …

Can the tree gardens continuue? A message from Tony Campbell

This poignant email was sent by Tony Campbell on 8th November: Dear Ockendon Road gardener. I am sorry to have to write with disappointing news.  I do so on behalf of those who have been helping to look after those tree gardens that are not the individual responsibility of yourself and others. Sadly, advancing age …