I USED to drive down the A40 past Northala Park in Northolt all the time and kept talking about making a visit.
From the motorway the cone-shaped mounds of earth looked an interesting site. For whatever reason we never did go there while we lived locally. But recently, on a return visit to the UK, we finally stopped talking about it and took action. We wished we'd done so much sooner.
Northala Park has four man-made hills and there are plans to make a fifth. From the top of the tallest (84ft high) you can see beyond the new Wembley Stadium and to Canary Wharf in the City of London.
If you ever wondered where the old Wembley disappeared to, the answer is Northala Park.
Approximately 60,000 lorry-loads of spoil and concrete helped create the hills and it came from Wembley and what used to be in White City before the grand Westfields Shopping Centre was constructed.
It took four years (from 2004) to complete and £5.5m to transform the wastelands into something useful - and eco-friendly. Money well spent if you ask me.
Local residents were asked for their input into the design and Northala also has a children's play area and lake area (and fishing pond) as well as the hills which make for fine walks as well as sight-seeing from the top. The hills buffer the noise of the traffic coming from the A40
Zenchai insisted on taking his bike and cycled to the top (mostly pushing and walking) before cruising down. The walkway circles the hill until it reaches the top. It can get blustery at the top and, on a winter's day, seriously chilly.
Fly a kite, go jogging, cycling or just walking, there's a little something for everyone.
Entry is free and there are small parking bays. If using public transport, get off at Northolt tube and walk.
Address: Kensington Road, Ealing, UB5 6UR. Tel: 020 88363961.
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