Silverhall Park, Isleworth, May 11th, 2014.

The Environment Trust always likes to work in partnership with other local groups, so it was today that we teamed up with the Friends of the River Crane Environment (FORCE), the Isleworth Society, the Conservation Volunteers (TCV), and the Friends of Silverhall Park, to give Silverhall Park in Isleworth a good clean up. Except where stated, today's photos were taken by volunteer photographer, Paul Franklin.

You can read more about Silverhall Park and the Hall, here http://www.londongardensonline.org.uk/gardens-online-record.asp?ID=HOU049

and here

http://www.hounslow.info/libraries/local-history-archives/an-a-z-of-isleworth/an-a-z-of-isleworth-3/

An unassuming park next to a busy road is a haven of peace and tranquillity.

Although looking as if it's been here forever, the Duke of Northumberland's River is manmade, albeit almost 500 years ago (Photo by Chris).

This mature sweet chestnut tree dominates the centre of the park (Photo by Chris).

What could be so interesting to volunteers over this wall?

The answer: a conglomeration of rubbish.

Other volunteers collect rubbish removed from the river downstream. 

The river is so full of plastic bags that almost every pond dip was fruitful. 

Other volunteers helped to improve the ornamental side of the park.

By the end of an exhausting day, a mountain of rubbish is displayed. 

A bike, a set of golf clubs, a street bollard, two office chairs, a television, and a shopping trolley, were just the most obvious 'prizes' (Photo by Chris).

Tea and cake (fig and almond) provided by a local resident was very welcome - and delicious! (Photo by Chris).

The Silver Hall, used to stand just inside this gate, but was sadly demolished in the 1950s (Photo by Chris).

This is where the house used to be (Photo by Chris).

Also in the park is the remains of an old ice house (Photo by Chris).

The ice house a Silverhall Park can be compared to this 18th century one in Marble Hill Park, Twickenham (Photo by Chris).

The ice house of Moseley Hall in Birmingham was restored a number of years ago and is now opened to the public during the summer. Could the ice house at Silverhall be similarly restored?

http://www.moseley-society.org.uk/the-ice-house