Haystack_14
Heathrow Orchard Walk (autumn version)
with Kate Corder
Sunday 14 September 2014, 1.30-5pm
In spring 2014 towards the end of apple blossom, a first Heathrow Orchard Walk took the form of a guided tour between Sipson and Harmondsworth village, searching for evidence of orchards and apple trees. Haystack number 14 will revisit this tour of contradictions, extremes and unexpected London landscapes during apple harvest time.
Prior to the building and expansion of Heathrow Airport the area surrounding both villages flourished with market gardens and orchards growing food for local communities and London. Kate Corder will take a guided walk across the land which is a potential site for the heavily contested third runway.
The walk starts at the gates of Transition Heathrow, a multi acre squat in an old market garden at the village of Sipson. We then walk from Sipson, passing the former Greenpeace Airplot orchard (no longer there) to Harmondsworth (1.1miles) to visit the grave of Richard and Ann Cox in St Mary’s churchyard (the Coxs grew the first Orange Pippen apple). Next to the churchyard lies the Grade 1 listed 600 year old Harmondsworth Barn, which is going to be open to the public the same day.
On route Kate is going to discuss the history of cultivation in the area and screen artist Tom Ingate’s Apple Tree Orchestra performance on a mobile phone.
The last part of the walk takes us to the Sheraton Heathrow Hotel, either directly along the main road or the Duke of Northumberland River Path. After visiting the apple orchard in the hotel garden, the Haystack ends with drinks in the Sheraton Discovery Bar.
Schedule: times and locations
Our first meeting point is at West Drayton train station (TFL zone 6) at 1.30pm (trains from Paddington take 20 minutes). From there we take the 222 bus (towards Hounslow) to Sipson. If you are travelling on the Underground meet us at Grow Heathrow in Sipson Village at 2pm. (Take the Piccadilly Line to Hounslow West and then take Bus 222 toward Uxbridge and get off at Sipson Close). Transition Heathrow is a minute walk away from the bus stop, turn right onto Sipson Lane and left onto Vineries Close and find their gate.
Addresses along the way and approximate times:
2pm – Transition Heathrow, Grow Heathrow, Vineries Close, Sipson, West Drayton, UB7 0JH.
3.30pm – Richard Cox’s grave, St Marys, High Street, Harmondsworth, UB7 OAQ.
4pm- Harmondsworth Barn, The Great Barn, Manor Court, High Street, Harmondsworth, UB7 0AQ.
5pm- Sheraton Heathrow Hotel, Colnbrook By-Pass, Harmondsworth, UB7 0HJ.
From the Sheraton we can take buses (U3 or 350) back to West Drayton or Heathrow Underground station.
If you attend this walk please respect the local community and do not scrump their apple trees unless the trees seem neglected.
Dr Kate Corder is an artist, researcher and curator. Her PhD explores allotments, plant material, land cultivation and products of the garden.
To get in contact on the day call Kathrin on .