From fly-tip eyesore to lovely garden
BY JACK LAWRENCE
toby@slpmedia.co.uk
A new community garden has been built in a well-known rubbish dumping hot spot to tackle fly-tipping in the area.
The community garden will be planted at the junction of Knight’s Hill and Chapel Road, in West Norwood, around the Victorian water fountain, which has become associated with fly-tipping.
The event will also serve as the relaunch of Lambeth council and Veolia’s joint project, called Freshview.
Lambeth’s Freshview project, which works with residents to help them make their streets more beautiful, will be given a relaunched new look.
Resident and garden designer Tessa Parikian created the design, and a team of volunteers from around the area pledged their support, as have local businesses via the Station to Station Business Improvement District.
She said: “West Norwood Gateway Garden, as it has been nicknamed, follows in the footsteps of Tritton Vale Pocket Garden, a resident-led project that has transformed a nearby plain grass verge into a beautiful place that the whole community is proud of.
“Veolia staff will co-ordinate the project and also supply reused and recycled materials to use in the creation of the garden.
Councillor Jennifer Brathwaite, cabinet member for housing and environment, said: “Freshview enables residents to take control of their local environment by making the improvements that they want to see.
“The council provides tools, materials and helping hands, but the project works so well because it’s led by residents. Many streets hold Freshview events every year, and we hope that by showing what can be achieved we will encourage more and more streets to get involved.”
Steve Verrier, senior contract manager for Veolia, said: “We collect food waste and garden waste from households, turn it into good quality soil improver, and use it to fill raised beds and planters in community gardens such as this. We also use scaffold boards that would otherwise be thrown away to build the beds, so it’s all about preserving and reusing valuable resources.”
To get involved in West Norwood Gateway Garden, or to find out how Freshview could work with you and your neighbours to mprove your own street, email Freshview@lambeth.gov.uk
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