The Southall Park Community Orchard was officially opened on Saturday by The Mayor of Ealing Cllr Harbhajan Kaur Dheer and other dignitaries. These included Ealing Southall MP Virendra Sharma who unveiled the ‘interpretation board’ and Dr Onkar Sahota (London Assembly).

Despite the cold and slightly drizzly weather a lot of volunteers came to help with the work before the official opening ceremony.

Jags Sanghera thanked Mani Dhanda (Chair of Southall Transition), Ealing Council’s Park Rangers, Susan Wyatt (Ealing Council), Janpal Basran of Southall Community Alliance, a sponsor the local “Subway”, Pauline Buchanan Black (The Tree Council) with Jon Stokes and Margaret Lipscombe for their contributions to the project.

Margaret Lipscombe said "Two thousand fruit bushes and over 50 trees were planted as part of this project. A legacy and resource for the community."

Pauline Buchanan Black (The Tree Council) "Jon Stokes and Margaret Lipscombe (both from the Tree Council) and Susan Wyat have been first class with the supervision, health and safety and the organisation."

"I want to, on behalf of the Tree Council, pay a particular tribute to Susan Wyatt who was Instrumental in setting up part of the Tree Council’s Tree Warden Scheme in Ealing. And we have some wonderful, dedicated volunteers who have been facilitated by Susan."

It has been recognised by the Queen because Susan had been invited to tea by the Queen because of her work that has been done in Ealing. She will be taking Jags Sanghera with her."

"The Southall Orchard group have been absolutely wonderful. They will be ensuring that what has been planted will be looked after. So you can come next year and pick the fruit. That is the whole point of the Southall Orchard project."

"Jon Stokes and Margaret Lipscombe have been absolutely brilliant. We will be coming back to do foraging workshops – find out what you can do with what has been planted. I am delighted to be part of this and work with you."

Cllr Dheer said "What you have started is a wonderful thing – The Tennis courts – the Park and many other improvements in the town. More fruit trees, more green corners in other parts of Ealing is a win-win situation."

Samosas and tea was available for everyone.

Dennis Frost "one of the best line managers", at Ealing Council, who will be retiring at the end of April 2016, got a warm round of applause from those present.

The Southall Orchard Project is a community led initiative aimed at planting orchards and fruiting hedges throughout Southall.

The aim is to have the town filled with a variety of fruit / nut trees and fruiting hedges which will provide free food for local people to enjoy. Southall Transition is working with Ealing Council and The Tree Council to achieve this.

The project was officially opened by the Mayor of Ealing Cllr Harbhajan Kaur Dheer on 5th December 2015 in Southall Park.

The second planting took place on Saturday 23rd January 2016 at 11am. It was to mostly plant shrubs around the periphery of Villiers High School and their Multi Use Games Areas

The third planting took place on 6th February when more fruiting hedges were planted in another section of the park.

Picture (above) left to right:

1. Mani Dhanda (Chair of Southall Transition),
2. Virendra Sharma (Ealing Southall MP),
3. Councillor Ranjit Dheer (Deputy Leader Ealing Council),
4. Councillor Harbhajan Kaur Dheer (Mayor of Ealing),
5. Dr Onkar Sahota (London Assembly)
6. Mrs Sharma,
7. Jags Sanghera

Picture (above) left to right;

1. Virendra Sharma (Ealing Southall MP),
2. Mrs Sharma,
3. Pauline Buchanan Black (Director-General of The Tree Council),
4. Margaret Lipscombe (Tree Council)