Editing Hanwell (section)

===Brent Lodge Park and Animal Centre===
[[File:Indian Blue Peacock 42.jpg|thumb|Peacock at the Brent Lodge Park Animal Centre|right]]
This park was acquired by [[Municipal Borough of Ealing|Ealing Borough Council]] as a recreation ground in 1931 from Sir <!--- DON'T ! - it is spelt without an 'e' at the end of Montagu--->Montagu Sharpe (1856–1942), who had lived in Brent Lodge since 1884. The lodge itself, by then dilapidated, was demolished. The original stable block remains and is Grade II listed.
For many years the park served as a 9-hole golf course requiring no more than a small driver and a putt, which could be hired together with a ball from a kiosk. Small boys would supplement their pocket money by retrieving lost balls from the river.<ref>A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3: Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury, Teddington, Heston and Isleworth, Twickenham, Cowley, Cranford, West Drayton, Greenford, Hanwell, Harefield and Harlington (1962) [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22341 Hanwell: Other estates] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525210408/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22341 |date=25 May 2011 }}. pages 225–226. Retrieved 11 September 2008.</ref>

Another attraction was a large wired enclosure, within which unwanted pet rabbits (and tortoises, guinea pigs etc.) were given a new home. This inevitably led to it acquiring the nickname 'Bunny Park', which is still how most locals refer to it today. Later, the animal collection became more exotic as it began to receive and house imported animals that remained unclaimed after their period of compulsory [[quarantine]] had expired. Better enclosures were built and it has now become a small zoo and is a recognized member of the [[British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums]] (BIAZA).<ref>Ealing Council (2008) [http://www.ealing.gov.uk/services/leisure/parks_and_open_spaces/animal_centres/ Animal centres ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922105036/http://www.ealing.gov.uk/services/leisure/parks_and_open_spaces/animal_centres/ |date=22 September 2008 }}. Retrieved 11 September 2008.</ref> As of April 2016, the animal centre has been renamed Hanwell Zoo, and is home to such animals as [[Mara (mammal)|Mara]], [[Capybara]], [[Meerkats]], [[Caribbean Flamingo]] and [[Crested Porcupine]], [[Emperor Tamarin]] monkeys and [[Ring-tailed Lemur]]s.

The park has a modern and well-equipped children's playground. Clearly visible on [[Google Earth]] are the 2,000 yew trees that were planted to create the [[Millennium]] Maze. The entrance to the park is at the south-west side of St Mary's Church at the end of Church Road.

The park also has a coffee shop and a children's play area.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cityultima.com/London/BusinessPage:Brent_Lodge_Park |title=Brent Lodge Park (Bunny Park), Animal Centre, Maze, Play Area, Cafe - Hanwell - Cityultima |access-date=8 May 2011 |archive-date=5 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005045811/http://www.cityultima.com/London/BusinessPage:Brent_Lodge_Park |url-status=dead }}</ref>