Neighbours
Everyone needs good.....
... neighbours
..... and Leabank Square is full of them!!
Friday, 15 December 2006
Flypast.
Remember to check out the skies over Leabank Square each time you hear there is going to be a posh flypast.
We are directly on the Queens flight path down Pall Mall in front of Buckingham Palace. So whenever she has a birthday - she sends her Red Arrows over Leabank Square for us - first!
True!!
No Ball Games
Did you know that according to your lease contract – if your children play ball games in Leabank Square – you are the one who gets into trouble?
Realistically – we all know that it’s impossible to stop a kid kicking a ball around. Impossible.
But if you really can’t go down the road into Viccie Park – or around the corner to Hackney Marshes – for a kick around – then please supervise your own kids.
Please make sure that they are not being a nuisance - by kicking against walls, or hitting any cars, or even worse – trying to retrieve a ball that has landed in the canal.
Remember – as a parent – you are liable for your child’s behaviour in & around Leabank Square.
Did you know that according to your lease contract – if your children play ball games in Leabank Square – you are the one who gets into trouble?
Realistically – we all know that it’s impossible to stop a kid kicking a ball around. Impossible.
But if you really can’t go down the road into Viccie Park – or around the corner to Hackney Marshes – for a kick around – then please supervise your own kids.
Please make sure that they are not being a nuisance - by kicking against walls, or hitting any cars, or even worse – trying to retrieve a ball that has landed in the canal.
Remember – as a parent – you are liable for your child’s behaviour in & around Leabank Square.
Tuesday, 12 December 2006
Voluntary Work.
There is no better feeling than doing some voluntary work. If you have a few spare hours a week – please consider doing some work for your favourite charity.
No matter what your interests are – there is bound to be a charity that reflects your ideals, passions & feelings towards your fellow humans.
So if you’re interested in animals – consider one of the hundreds of animal charities, if you are keen to eradicate the world of poverty – there are thousands of charities just waiting for you to call, or if someone in your family is poorly with some ailment – consider finding out if there is a charity working on a cure for it – and volunteer!
Besides the wonderful feeling of helping (instead of just talking about it) – the biggest bonus to doing charitable work – is meeting a whole bunch of new friends – who are just as great as you.
Here are just some of the organisations you could contact to begin talking about volunteering:
http://www.do-it.org.uk/
http://www.csv.org.uk/
http://www.volunteering.org.uk/
http://www.hackneyvoluntaryaction.org/
Go on – DO IT!
There is no better feeling than doing some voluntary work. If you have a few spare hours a week – please consider doing some work for your favourite charity.
No matter what your interests are – there is bound to be a charity that reflects your ideals, passions & feelings towards your fellow humans.
So if you’re interested in animals – consider one of the hundreds of animal charities, if you are keen to eradicate the world of poverty – there are thousands of charities just waiting for you to call, or if someone in your family is poorly with some ailment – consider finding out if there is a charity working on a cure for it – and volunteer!
Besides the wonderful feeling of helping (instead of just talking about it) – the biggest bonus to doing charitable work – is meeting a whole bunch of new friends – who are just as great as you.
Here are just some of the organisations you could contact to begin talking about volunteering:
http://www.do-it.org.uk/
http://www.csv.org.uk/
http://www.volunteering.org.uk/
http://www.hackneyvoluntaryaction.org/
Go on – DO IT!
Hackney City Farm
Are you looking for a great day out that’s only a few minutes from Leabank Square? Then look no further than Hackney City Farm!
Simply take the number 26 bus from St Mary’s Church – and after about 10 mins you’ll see the Hackney City Farm sign on your right hand side. Hop off – and cross the road to a great, relaxing, family or adult friendly & healthy day out.
The first building you’ll come to as you go down the farm lane – is the old Farmhouse. There is a Time Out Award winning restaurant inside where you can wolf down great all day breakfast (with farm fresh eggs), loads of different pasta dishes, great cakes & delicious Italian coffee.
The farmhouse also hosts many diverse meetings, groups & craft sessions – so check the notice board for current & future activities. But a great one to bring your toddlers to is the Pottery Class on Wednesdays at 2.00pm. They will spend hours shaping amazing works of art with you – and with professional guidance from the staff. You can then leave it to be fired & painted at the next session.
But out in the farmyard is where all the action is. There are ducks, geese, chickens, turkeys, hamsters, guinea pigs, chinchillas, pigs, goats, sheep, cows, donkeys – even pigeons! All the animals – except for one mean turkey – are very friendly & used to humans. You will have hours of fun stroking, chatting to, mimicking, and laughing at all the inhabitants of Hackney City Farm.
There is a secluded orchard & herb garden where you can sit on a bench & read or relax. See how many of the plants you recognise as cooking & eating delicacies.
At the rear of the farm is a sty for gaining access to a small wood with a great cycle track, pond, football pitches, playground & park. The pond is great in spring & summer for pond dipping & netting tadpoles, frogs & newts. Just please put them back into the pond after you’ve studied them.
Why not nip back to the farmhouse for an afternoon cuppa & cake in the café’s garden. It really does feel like you’re on a farm – it’s only when you hear the distant occasional siren or hooter that you remember that you’re in the middle of Hackney.
So if you’re just browsing this Leabank Square site for a few ideas to spend a relaxing day – please remember to check out the Hackney City Farm.
http://www.hackneycityfarm.co.uk/
Oh yes – and another thing – it is free to get in – but it is a charity – so if you’re feeling a bit flush on any of your visits – please drop a couple of quid into the collection box.
Are you looking for a great day out that’s only a few minutes from Leabank Square? Then look no further than Hackney City Farm!
Simply take the number 26 bus from St Mary’s Church – and after about 10 mins you’ll see the Hackney City Farm sign on your right hand side. Hop off – and cross the road to a great, relaxing, family or adult friendly & healthy day out.
The first building you’ll come to as you go down the farm lane – is the old Farmhouse. There is a Time Out Award winning restaurant inside where you can wolf down great all day breakfast (with farm fresh eggs), loads of different pasta dishes, great cakes & delicious Italian coffee.
The farmhouse also hosts many diverse meetings, groups & craft sessions – so check the notice board for current & future activities. But a great one to bring your toddlers to is the Pottery Class on Wednesdays at 2.00pm. They will spend hours shaping amazing works of art with you – and with professional guidance from the staff. You can then leave it to be fired & painted at the next session.
But out in the farmyard is where all the action is. There are ducks, geese, chickens, turkeys, hamsters, guinea pigs, chinchillas, pigs, goats, sheep, cows, donkeys – even pigeons! All the animals – except for one mean turkey – are very friendly & used to humans. You will have hours of fun stroking, chatting to, mimicking, and laughing at all the inhabitants of Hackney City Farm.
There is a secluded orchard & herb garden where you can sit on a bench & read or relax. See how many of the plants you recognise as cooking & eating delicacies.
At the rear of the farm is a sty for gaining access to a small wood with a great cycle track, pond, football pitches, playground & park. The pond is great in spring & summer for pond dipping & netting tadpoles, frogs & newts. Just please put them back into the pond after you’ve studied them.
Why not nip back to the farmhouse for an afternoon cuppa & cake in the café’s garden. It really does feel like you’re on a farm – it’s only when you hear the distant occasional siren or hooter that you remember that you’re in the middle of Hackney.
So if you’re just browsing this Leabank Square site for a few ideas to spend a relaxing day – please remember to check out the Hackney City Farm.
http://www.hackneycityfarm.co.uk/
Oh yes – and another thing – it is free to get in – but it is a charity – so if you’re feeling a bit flush on any of your visits – please drop a couple of quid into the collection box.
Friday, 1 December 2006
Cycling
Leabank Square is the perfect place to have a bicycle!
We are situated along hundreds of kilometres of wonderful scenic & picturesque cycle paths – that can take you on brilliant adventures.
Whether you just fancy a quiet coast around Viccie Park – stopping off at the lakeside café – or whether you want a long, hard mountain biking obstacle course through Hackney & Walthamstow Marshes – we’ve got it all right next to us.
It doesn’t matter if you turn left or right outside our square – you are bound to enjoy a fantastic full day of cycling.
Sóna – at number 71 – will be only too willing to point you in any direction. And while you’re knocking on neighbour’s doors – why not invite some of them along for a ride – and maybe a picnic!
Please check out: http://www.hackney-cyclists.org.uk/index.htm
& http://www.sustrans.org.uk/
& http://www.lcc.org.uk/
Leabank Square is the perfect place to have a bicycle!
We are situated along hundreds of kilometres of wonderful scenic & picturesque cycle paths – that can take you on brilliant adventures.
Whether you just fancy a quiet coast around Viccie Park – stopping off at the lakeside café – or whether you want a long, hard mountain biking obstacle course through Hackney & Walthamstow Marshes – we’ve got it all right next to us.
It doesn’t matter if you turn left or right outside our square – you are bound to enjoy a fantastic full day of cycling.
Sóna – at number 71 – will be only too willing to point you in any direction. And while you’re knocking on neighbour’s doors – why not invite some of them along for a ride – and maybe a picnic!
Please check out: http://www.hackney-cyclists.org.uk/index.htm
& http://www.sustrans.org.uk/
& http://www.lcc.org.uk/
Recycle your books.
They dreamt up a scheme in Amsterdam a few years ago – whereby white bicycles were provided free.
And the idea was that – after you’d finished your ride – you’d leave the bike in the street for someone else to use free.
And if that isn’t recycling – what is?!
But unfortunately this idea flopped – because they failed to take into account two things.
One – the fact that criminals exist.
And two – the fact that coloured paint exists.
But the idea was fantastically optimistic – and deserved to succeed.
A better version of this might be to ask people to recycle their books. Give them to a local charity shop, your local library – or just simply leave it on one of our Leabank Square benches.
They dreamt up a scheme in Amsterdam a few years ago – whereby white bicycles were provided free.
And the idea was that – after you’d finished your ride – you’d leave the bike in the street for someone else to use free.
And if that isn’t recycling – what is?!
But unfortunately this idea flopped – because they failed to take into account two things.
One – the fact that criminals exist.
And two – the fact that coloured paint exists.
But the idea was fantastically optimistic – and deserved to succeed.
A better version of this might be to ask people to recycle their books. Give them to a local charity shop, your local library – or just simply leave it on one of our Leabank Square benches.
Hackney Marshes
Hackney Marshes was reclaimed after the area was razed to the ground during the Second World War and ever since has been used as a recreation ground for music events, socialising and, most famously of all, sport.
Teams and individuals meet daily on the Marshes to indulge in all kinds of sports from hockey to kite flying. Whether it's a serious game or just a knockabout there is always something going on and always someone showing off some serious skills. Run by the local council, Hackney Marshes is one of the most well known outdoor sporting facilities in London, if not the UK.
Known as a football Mecca to some, Hackney Marshes has an incredible 87 full size pitches, which is the largest concentration of football pitches in the whole of Europe. Even so, if you visit on a Sunday don't expect to get a game, over one hundred matches are played here every Sunday during the season by both male and female teams.
There are so many Sunday League teams, and indeed leagues to fit them all in to, that anyone interested in getting muddy has the pick of the bunch (we're not even going to start naming all the teams that play here but five-a-side, under 21s, women and kids all play here as well as your twenty something lads letting off steam after a hard week at work). So whoever you are and whatever your level of skill get down there and ask around - you're bound to get a game with someone!
Hockey and rugby are also popular, with facilities for both if football just sounds like a big girl's blouse game to you and you want to get really bruised of a weekend. Again, many teams play matches and practice here for both sports, seriously and just for fun so whatever level you are at the best thing you can do is go along and check out the competition. And if it all looks a bit rough and tumble, you may want to turn your attentions to the games of cricket going on in other parts of the ground.
Finally, to some it may not be a sport but to others, kite flying is as important as a match between England and France and when the weather is just right flyers turn out in force to catch some wind or, for the more extreme experience, parakart their way around the place. Every year also sees the East London Kite Festival take over Hackney Marshes with demos, stalls and competitions.
But for a bit of contemporary history – Hackney Marshes were immortalised in the Nike advert which used Blur’s “Parklife” as the soundtrack!
For a map – please visit: http://www.leevalleypark.org.uk/en/maps/pdfs/leevalley9.pdf
Abandoned vehicles.
Occasionally you may spot a car that has been driven into Leabank Square – and abandoned for some particular reason.
I know it’s thankfully a regular occurrence – but if you have seen a car in the same spot for many weeks – and it hasn’t appeared to have been used – then give Hackney Council a call.
You can also report abandoned cars out in the neighbourhood while you’re going about your business.
There is a dedicated abandoned vehicles phone number: 020 8356 7245
Or – you can use the contact form on: http://www.hackney.gov.uk/index.htm/ee-abandoned-vehicles-372.htm
By getting rid of them – it frees up more parking spaces for us residents – and our visitors – and makes Leabank square look nicer!!
Occasionally you may spot a car that has been driven into Leabank Square – and abandoned for some particular reason.
I know it’s thankfully a regular occurrence – but if you have seen a car in the same spot for many weeks – and it hasn’t appeared to have been used – then give Hackney Council a call.
You can also report abandoned cars out in the neighbourhood while you’re going about your business.
There is a dedicated abandoned vehicles phone number: 020 8356 7245
Or – you can use the contact form on: http://www.hackney.gov.uk/index.htm/ee-abandoned-vehicles-372.htm
By getting rid of them – it frees up more parking spaces for us residents – and our visitors – and makes Leabank square look nicer!!
Trowbridge Surgery Now Open
Doctor
Leabank Square is so very lucky to have such an excellent local doctors surgery so close to us.
Everyone who goes there – has only great things to say about all the staff there – and we are very grateful to them all.
If you’ve just moved into Leabank Square – please make your way to the surgery (in front of St Mary’s Church – you can see the spire from the entrance to Leabank Square) and register.
Or you can call them on 020 8986 7781 and chat to them about registering.
The opening hours are:
Mon: 8.00am – 6.30pm
Tues: 8.00am – 6.30pm
Wed: 8.00am – 6.30pm
Thurs: 8.00am – 3.30pm
Fri: 8.00am – 6.30pm
Sat: am only
So – make sure you register soon after moving into Leabank Square – just in case.
For the rest of us who have been going there for a while now – why not send the staff a Thank You card once in a while? They are always on call for us – and the least we can do is pop a card in the post every now & then.
The address is:
Trowbridge Surgery
18 Merriam Avenue
London
E9 5NE
Leabank Square is so very lucky to have such an excellent local doctors surgery so close to us.
Everyone who goes there – has only great things to say about all the staff there – and we are very grateful to them all.
If you’ve just moved into Leabank Square – please make your way to the surgery (in front of St Mary’s Church – you can see the spire from the entrance to Leabank Square) and register.
Or you can call them on 020 8986 7781 and chat to them about registering.
The opening hours are:
Mon: 8.00am – 6.30pm
Tues: 8.00am – 6.30pm
Wed: 8.00am – 6.30pm
Thurs: 8.00am – 3.30pm
Fri: 8.00am – 6.30pm
Sat: am only
So – make sure you register soon after moving into Leabank Square – just in case.
For the rest of us who have been going there for a while now – why not send the staff a Thank You card once in a while? They are always on call for us – and the least we can do is pop a card in the post every now & then.
The address is:
Trowbridge Surgery
18 Merriam Avenue
London
E9 5NE
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