We first arrived in Golborne by
bus, stopping at Westbourne Park tube station. On our way to Golborne
Road we took the scenic route along the canal past the Meanwhile
Wildlife Gardens, the skate park, ducks, geese and canal barges.
This stretch of the Grand
Union Canal left a big first impression on us. Throughout
our time in Golborne it became our main hang out place and a way
into the community. As we learnt more about Golborne and its community
the canal revealed itself to be a significant unifying common interest
and reference point.
We discovered Meanwhile Wildlife
Gardens by walking down the canal. In Meanwhile we were told about
the Beauchamp Lodge 'floating classroom'.
We had spotted the Beauchamp boat on a previous day, as it chugged
past us as we sunbathed by the canal. Intrigued, we took a trip
down to meet the people at Beauchamp and to get a look inside the
impressive boat.
The Beauchamp 'floating classroom'
is moored in the Paddington Basin just underneath the Westway. Lizzie
Spring (the former manager of Beauchamp Lodge 'floating classroom')
showed us around the purpose-built, state of the art 70ft barge,
complete with flat screen presentation monitor, large carpeted classroom
with foldaway desks and two outdoor decks. Lizzie was really enthusiastic
about Beauchamp being involved with golborne.org, particularly as
the 'floating classroom' had just been awarded funding for a year
long arts programme and Lizzie was looking for potential artists
to be involved in the delivery of the project.
