May 2011 Archives

Parents in Kensington and Chelsea have been urged to protect their children against measles after the number of cases increased.

In the whole of last year no children had the disease but already this year, there have been three reported cases of measles.

The Health Protection Agency, which released the figures, called for parents to vaccinate their children to stop the spread of the illness.

Six British Saddleback pigs have taken up residency in Holland Park, using their well-trained snouts to turn over soil in part of the park.

Last year a family of pigs were used to help restore the meadow area of the Arboretum, this year the nearby Oak Enclosure will be their home.

Councillor Nick Paget-Brown, responsible for the environment, said: "Last year the pigs were a great success. Not only did they effectively turn the soil in the Arboretum, but many visitors to the park, particularly children, thoroughly enjoyed seeing them and learning more about how they live.

The first ever Armenian Street Festival is being held in Iverna Gardens, Kensington, on Sunday June 12.

Between 1-5pm, the road will be closed to traffic as the street party takes over, with two decorated tents put up, and traditional food and drinks on offer.

Notting Barns safer neighbourhood team is the latest policing team in the borough to set up an online 'virtual wards' scheme.

The policing priorities in each ward are agreed at panel meetings attended by officers, residents, community workers and businesses.

The popular Open Squares weekend will be held on June 11 and 12 and will see 46 gardens across Kensington and Chelsea opened to the public.

The weekend offers the rare opportunity to get behind walls and gain inspiration from London's private community gardens and spaces, which are not normally open to the public.

Older people in North Kensington have become 'silver surfers' after learning how to surf the web.

After taking part in a series of classes at James Hill House care home in Kensal Road, they can now use the internet, web cams and software programmes using specially-designed computers with large screens and keyboards.

Older residents from across the borough are invited to an open meeting on how the tri-borough plans will affect them.

Kensington and Chelsea Councillors Rock Feilding-Mellen and Warwick Lightfoot will be explaining the effect of the plans to share services with Hammersmith and Fulham and Westminster Councils during the meeting on Friday June 3.

Emerging designers from a North Kensington college have been selected to showcase their work at the world-renowned V&A Museum.

The talented six from Kensington and Chelsea College, in Wornington Road, were given the opportuntity after entering a competition run by the museum.

Forty elderly residents will have the opportunity to take a break from the hustle and bustle of Notting Hill Carnival with a council scheme.

Residents living directly on the Carnival route who may find the exuberance of the weekend too much, will be driven to the Glastonbury Hotel in Eastbourne on Saturday August 27, returning home on Tuesday 30, once the council has had time to clear up, and the area is quieter.

Enthusiastic volunteers who are passionate about books are need to help with a summer reading challenge.

The scheme encourages children to visit the borough's libraries to read six or more books over the summer holidays, with their progress recorded in a logbook.