Street flowers 2020

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 …

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 …

Autumn 2018: Up to the Downs

The last weekend in September often vouchsafes wonderful walking weather, but this Ramble was tremendous: sun, big skies, and breath-taking views over Sussex and towards the sea. Two feeder groups successfully conjoined  at East Croydon; the curiously triangular station at Lewes was reached on time. Then a small select group of Ramblers embarked on the …

History of our street

This is a photo of Ockendon Road from the East in 1910.