Old Canoes, New Life: Community Comes Together for Bee and Canoe Day at Southall

A creative and community-driven event led by our client Berkeley Homes and supported by Elite saw disused canoes transformed into vibrant features for pollinator planting, breathing new life into Southall’s green spaces.

The "Canoe and Bee Day" initiative brought together local volunteers, community leaders, and landscaping professionals to repurpose old canoes - destined for landfill - into colourful planters designed to attract bees and support biodiversity. Hosted at Berkeley’s Southall development site, the event aimed to celebrate sustainable design and urban greening.

Jags Sanghera, Head of Business & Community Engagement at Berkeley Homes, praised the collaboration, saying:

“It’s been great being able to improve the area with canoes that would have otherwise been thrown away. Many thanks to Bruce and the team at Elite Landscapes for assisting in this lovely project.”

The initiative highlights both organisations’ shared values around environmental responsibility, community involvement, and creative thinking. Michelle Mhuka, Content and Community Engagement Coordinator at Berkeley, captured the event’s energy on social media, with highlights shared via Instagram.

Photos from the day show residents and team members working together to plant bee-friendly flora, with the upcycled canoes now standing as colourful, functional installations across the site — promoting pollination and bringing natural beauty into the heart of the community.

The event is part of a wider commitment from both Berkeley Homes and Elite Landscapes to promote sustainability and wellbeing across London’s urban developments.