Ickenham and Swakeleys Horticultural Society: May update and Plant Sale reminder

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From the Society:
 
We hope you are enjoying the warmer, sunnier weather and planning what to plant out in your garden for the summer.

Plant Sale – Wednesday 13th May,  2.30pm – 6.00pm

Don’t forget our annual Plant Sale on Wednesday 13th May at the Horticultural Hut.  This is an ideal opportunity to find just what you need for your summer planting.  There will be an assortment of flowering bedding plants as well as a variety of shrubs, roses and perennials.   And if you know of any non-members who are interested they can always join the society on the day to take advantage of the sale.

We would greatly appreciate any offers of help and also welcome any donations of plants, cuttings and seedlings that we can sell.  Donations can be pot plants, herbs, flowering plants, shrubs and vegetable seedlings, that you have grown yourself or no longer need – so long as they are healthy and good enough to buy.  Please make sure donations are labelled so we know what we are selling and that they are watered.

You can bring your donations along on the day or contact us to arrange collection. 

Talk at Ruislip Central Horticultural Society
 
Our neighbouring horticultural society is hosting an event which some of our members might like to attend. The event is ‘An evening with Matthew Pottage and Fergus Garrett’ taking place on Tuesday 13th October 2026 at 8pm at The Winston Churchill Theatre in Ruislip. 

Matthew Pottage is the Head of Horticulture and Landscape Strategy for The Royal Parks charity. He is also a regular on BBC Radio 4’s Gardener’s Question Time, as well as Gardeners’ World. 

Fergus Garrett is the Chief Executive and Head Gardener at Great Dixter Charitable Trust. Fergus has been described as one of the most influential living garden designers and horticultural educators in Britain today.

This event is bound to sell out fast, so if you wish to attend, click on the Ruislip Central’s website ruisliphorticultural.org.uk for tickets, which are priced at £28 for non-members (£18 tickets are Ruislip central members only). Their website has contact details if you have any questions or queries. 
 
If you have any queries or suggestions on improving the society, please contact secretary@ickenham-horticultural.org.uk.

Ickenham & Swakeleys Horticultural Society

               

Bank holiday refuse collections in May

Collection days for households and businesses during the bank holiday periods.

To minimise disruption to collections during the May bank holidays, our crews will be working on 9th and 30th May.

This will enable collections to return to normal as quickly as possible.

Early May Bank Holiday collection days
Monday 4 May (Bank Holiday) >> Tuesday 5 May
Tuesday 5 May >> Wednesday 6 May
Wednesday 6 May >> Thursday 7 May
Thursday 7 May >> Friday 8 May
Friday 8 May >> Saturday 9 May

Late May Bank Holiday collection days
Monday 25 May (Bank Holiday) >> Tuesday 26 May
Tuesday 26 May >> Wednesday 27 May
Wednesday 27 May >> Thursday 28 May
Thursday 28 May >> Friday 29 May
Friday 29 May >> Saturday 30 May

Please leave your rubbish out for collection by 6am, near your front gate, but not on the pavement.

Protecting Colne Valley Park

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We have been asked to circulate the following by Colne Valley Park:

We are part of the Big Give Campaign which is running now until noon on Wednesday.

Please spread the word that if you would like to donate to the Colne Valley Park: A Corridor for Life Campaign, now would be the perfect time to do it as donations will be doubled.

Just click on this link:   https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05WS00000BzS15YAF

HS2 update

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Completed Thames Water Tankering Operation on Harvil Road – 2-Way Traffic Lights near Harvil Farm
Thames Water have completed the repair of the burst sewer pipe that had required them to reintroduce Tankering Operations along Harvil Road towards the end of last week. 
The Temporary 2-Way Traffic Lights located between Harvil Farm and HS2 Gate 1 Site on Harvil Road were removed by Mon morning 13/04 along with the Tankering Operation that had been taking place.
 
Ongoing PROW U43 Permanent Fence Installation – 23/03 to 29/05 
HS2/SCS are removing the existing wooden hoarding and replacing with permanent Fencing along PROW U43 where the Flood Compensation Area (FCA) is located off Breakspear Road South. 
These works started from w/c 23/03 and are expected to be completed by 29/05. 
The works will be completed by removing one piece of hoarding, then installing the permanent Fencing in its place. The PROW will remain open, and Marshalls will be present to ensure works stop to allow pedestrians past safely.   
The PROW will remain open at all times.
Updated Noise Barrier Installation at West Ruislip – 01/04 to 31/12 
Piling ahead of the Installation of the Noise Barriers in now complete from Copthall Tunnel to West Ruislip. 
Installation of Drainage ahead of where the Noise Barriers will be installed remains ongoing and has been consented to take place Mon to Sat between 8am & 6pm (between Copthall Tunnel & Breakspear Road South) and during Core Working Hours (between Breakspear Road South & West Ruislip).
 
 
 

HS2 noise barrier update

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New Noise Barrier Installation at West Ruislip – 01/04 to 31/12
 
Piling ahead of the Installation of the Noise Barriers in now complete from Copthall Tunnel to West Ruislip.
 
Installation of Drainage ahead of where the Noise Barriers will be installed remains ongoing and has been consented to take place Mon to Sat between 8am & 6pm (between Copthall Tunnel & Breakspear Road South) and during Core Working Hours (between Breakspear Road South & West Ruislip).


 
From April 2026 the Noise Barrier Panels will begin to be installed during Core Working Hours (Mon to Fri – 8am to 6pm & Sat 8am to 1pm).

 
Updated Headhouse Works at West Ruislip Portal – Jan to Dec 2026 
From Jan 2026 HS2/SCS will be continuing with construction of the Porous Portal and the Headhouse at West Ruislip Portal near to where the 2 Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) were launched, including:
  formwork and steel fixing (24/6) concrete placing and finishing works (core hours) welding (core hours) hydro scabbling (as required)  
Through the first half of 2026 SCS are also working to complete reinforced concrete elements required to construct the Headhouse frame structure at track level and basement level, including the ground floor slab.
 
The final finished structure will be approximately 9 metres above ground level when works are complete, however, by the middle of 2026 works should be approaching / just above existing site hoarding level.
 
 

Upcoming strike action

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Planned strike action by RMT Tube drivers affecting all Tube services will take place between Tuesday 21 and Friday 24 April. 

Tuesday 21 and Thursday 23 April Morning – normal services expected until mid-morning Late morning – some disruption as services start to reduce ahead of strike action starting After midday – significant disruption expected on all lines Wednesday 22 and Friday 24 April Morning – significant disruption expected on all lines After midday – continued disruption throughout the afternoon and evening as we return the service to normal Evening – normal service Elizabeth line, DLR, London Overground, Trams and most bus routes will be running as normal but are expected to be very busy. On Friday 24 April a strike will affect a few bus routes in east London. Roads are also expected to be busier during this time.

Service levels on the London Underground will vary throughout the week. Plan ahead, allow more time for your journey and check before you travel.

For full details on strikes, visit our website.  https://tfl.gov.uk/campaign/strikes?cid=strikes