Invitation to HOW - Heathrow Orchard Walk, continuing the series, the next walk is on Sunday 19th July 2015,
1.00-6.00pm (approximately)
Around Heathrow Airport much of the land is
heavily contested and has been at risk of being bulldozed for airport expansion
for sometime; the land includes the villages of Sipson and Harmondsworth.
Suggestions for a Third Runway at Heathrow cite economic growth as a reason for
expansion. These suggestions ignore noise, pollution, global warming, the loss
of human and non-human habitats and vital green space. The Davies Commission
published on 1st July 2015, reported Heathrow as the viable option for airport
expansion. All UK political parties conveniently opted out of making airport
expansion political before the 2015 General Election. David Cameron has
previously stated Heathrow expansion will not happen, but now, he is allowing
himself the position of considering his options until later in 2015; holding
the surrounding area of Heathrow to ransom.
Artist Kate Corder invites
you to participate in the next Heathrow Orchard Walk on Sunday 19th July 2015 and get to know the
endangered environs of Heathrow; land once more threatened by airport
expansion. Fertile soil in the area was deposited on a deep layer of
gravel during glacial melt. Prior to the airport (1946), Heathrow and the
surrounding land flourished with orchards and market gardens supplying vegetables
and fruit to London and local communities. Airport and Motorway construction
ceased the regions productive fruit and vegetables businesses. Aggregate gravel
farming in the area is deconstructing the land, which is later often
reconstructed in to Moor land.
We will meet at the gates of Transition Heathrow at Sipson. We will walk from Sipson to Harmondsworth
and observe Monuments in the area; the gravel farm earthworks at Sipson, the
19th Century Cox's Grave (growers of the Cox's Orange Pippin) in Harmondsworth
Churchyard, the gracious and ancient Walnut Trees at the back of the medieval
Harmondsworth Great Barn, (the Barn is not open on 19th July). We will walk
across the constructed Moor searching for fruit trees and orchard remains. We
will encounter contrasts of rural tranquility combined with hyper activity of
human travel and geopolitical borders (Heathrow Immigration Removal Centre sits
next to the Sheraton Hotel; the Sheraton planted their own orchard in their
garden in 2012).
The Walk starts at 14:00 from Transition
Heathrow.
Schedule - Times and Meeting Points:
Our meeting points are either:
12:55pm
meet at West Drayton train station (TFL zone 6, trains from Paddington take 20
mins), then take the 222 bus (towards Hounslow) to Sipson, UB7 0JH.
Or 13:00 -14:00
at Transition Heathrow, Vineries Close, Sipson, UB7 0JH. If you are
travelling on the underground Piccadilly Line take the 222 bus from Hounslow
towards Uxbridge and alight at Sipson.
Or 15:00 (approx)
at Harmondsworth Churchyard Gate, UB7 0AQ.
This walk might be approximately 3-6 miles and will finish around 18:00. Some
of the terrain may be wild. It is advisable to bring lunch and water and wear
sun protection. If you are interested in participating in this walk, contact
Kate. If you know others who may be interested in taking part in HOW please
forward the invite, thanks. Further HOW events will occur in the summer and
autumn. Foraged fruit recipe suggestions, such as Jam and Cake, can be found on
Kate's website www.katecorder.net
Dr Kate Corder is an artist, researcher and
curator. Her PhD in
art practice explored allotments, rural labour, plant material, land
cultivation, earthworks and products of the garden.
Kate's Heathrow Orchard Walk
series started in 2014 and is continuing in 2015.