Discover Ealing’s Natural Wonders with Wild About Ealing & Pitshanger
Ealing, fondly known as ‘The Queen of the Suburbs,’ offers a unique blend of vibrant urban life and serene green spaces, making it one of London’s most treasured boroughs. Local author and photographer Andrew Wilson has captured its beauty, history, and wildlife in his latest book, Wild About Ealing & Pitshanger. As part of the book’s launch, Andrew is hosting a free event at Questors Theatre on Sunday 26th November, 7pm–9pm, in collaboration with the Ealing Wildlife Group.
We spoke to Andrew, who shared the journey of creating his book, his experiences exploring Ealing’s hidden wonders, and his mission to support local conservation efforts.
Why Ealing?
Despite his extensive work on books about other London neighbourhoods, Andrew admits that Ealing wasn’t always on his radar. “I have often wondered why it took me so long to do a book on Ealing,” he says. “It has not one but three bookshops, swathes of green open spaces, I have friends here, and there’s even a family of beavers. What was I thinking?”
Once he began working on the project, Andrew quickly realised just how much Ealing had to offer. “Even for a nature enthusiast like me, I was staggered at how much is going on in Ealing and how large the area is. Spending hours just absorbing it all on the many walks I took was simply wonderful.”
Exploring Ealing’s Natural Treasures
Andrew’s book is filled with breathtaking imagery of Ealing’s parks, wildlife, and green spaces. Despite some less-than-ideal weather, he was ready to capture its beauty. “Sadly, the weather hasn’t been at its best—no snow for that glorious winter scene, and then the rain never seemed to stop during spring. However, as an inveterate weather watcher, I was ready to get out on the good days we had.”
A highlight of the project was his collaboration with the Ealing Wildlife Group (EWG). “Well, besides the beavers, which are simply magical, there’s the focal point that the group gives for all things green in the borough,” he says. “I met their chair, Sean McCormack, early on in the process, and he introduced me to the Peregrines on Ealing Hospital, their Harvest Mouse breeding programme, and even took me kestrel ringing with the BTO—what an experience that was!”
Andrew describes his time with the EWG as inspiring. “They rely very heavily on their troop of volunteers and, like most local organisations, are short of resources. That’s why I wanted to support them by gifting 50% of the proceeds from book sales on the evening.”
What Makes Ealing Unique?
Every book in Andrew’s Wild About series is shaped by the character of the area it explores. “All my books have nature and green open spaces at their heart, hence my Wild About title,” he explains. “Take the other book I’ve just published on Kensington—it couldn’t be more different.”
But Ealing’s diversity and richness left a lasting impression. “The kestrel ringing has to be the highlight for me. You can just see the look on my face to know how much fun it was!”
Save the Date
Don’t miss the chance to celebrate Ealing’s beauty and biodiversity while supporting a vital cause. Join Andrew Wilson and the Ealing Wildlife Group at Questors Theatre on Sunday 26th November, 7pm–9pm. The event promises an evening of stunning photography, fascinating insights, and an opportunity to purchase Wild About Ealing & Pitshanger, with half the proceeds going to the EWG.
Mark your diary and prepare to discover Ealing as you’ve never seen it before!