Category: Events

  • Bird Walk report

    QPARA Bird Walk 2015

    Last Saturday 23rd May was the day for QPARA’s annual birdwalk around Queen’s Park and Paddington Cemetery. The weather was sunny, the company of nine good and the birds were singing as we set off from the cafe. Seeing a blue tit popping in and out of what must have been a nest site in the corner of the cafe roof made a good start. The Quiet Garden was not quiet when it came to bird song. It also produced a greenfinch – a species that has been scarce recently due to disease – a splendid song thrush and a flock of starlings, including many young. Indeed we saw a lot more starlings in similar flocks of around 20 than we have ever done on previous walks. 6 walkers made it round the Cemetery as well, two of whom spotted a goldfinch as they were leaving.

    2015 Bird Walk report

    Mistle thrushMistle thrush

  • Last year, 15% of Brent children left primary school not reading well enough for secondary school. Can you help?

    Beanstalk copy

    Beanstalk is a charity that responds to this need by recruiting and training people to volunteer in a local primary school to support children who are struggling with their reading and prevent them from falling behind. Reading Helpers provide regular one-to-one reading support to three children for a whole year to help them read, grow and succeed. With Beanstalk’s support the child’s approach to reading is often transformed.

    Children in Brent urgently need more volunteers to become Reading Helpers. Beanstalk Reading Helpers are trained to recognise what challenges these children face and work through them. By becoming a Reading Helper you can make an outstanding contribution to a child’s reading ability, self-confidence and love of reading. With access to a library of books and games at their local branch, they can tailor their sessions best to support the children they work with.

    This opportunity runs throughout the school term time and you will be at the school for two 90 minute sessions a week. You can sign up at any time during the school year and will full training and expenses will be provided.

    To find out more, please visit beanstalkcharity.org.uk

    May 15, 2015

  • Look out for Woodpeckers and Swifts on the QPARA Bird-walk on 23rd May

    Everyone is welcome to join the annual QPARA Bird-walk covering Queen’s Park and Paddington Cemetery. We are planning to start at the park cafe at 9.30am on Saturday, 23rd May. The walk will take about 90 minutes, but people can join or leave at any time.

    We will be looking out especially for Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers and Swifts. Please bring binoculars if you have them. We will also need a volunteer to make a note of the birds spotted.

     

    Male Great Spotted Woodpecker
    Male Great Spotted Woodpecker