The Conservation Volunteer’s Chris Speirs, The London Health Manager spoke on BBC London Radio last Friday on the ‘pocket parks’ initiative funded by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.
The £2m funding is being used to create a total of 100 ‘pocket parks’ from underused urban spaces across London into places for the community to enjoy, for example by planting vegetables and plants and bringing a space to life.
TCV’s Chris Speirs spoke on the charity’s successful work in the pocket park in Bromley. The charity partnered with Intu Bromley and London Borough of Bromley earlier this year to launch Bromley Green Gym, recruiting a group of volunteers to transform the underused College Green & Slip in the heart of Bromley Town Centre. The funding will help the group to create a ‘pocket park’ which will be a haven for wildlife, and a thriving and interactive community space with orchards, raised beds, wildflower meadows and hedgerows.
TCV’s, London Health Manager, Chris Speirs, said:
"The College Green in Bromley has huge potential. It’s a hugely underutilised space, we want to encourage people to interact with nature, grow food and learn about wildlife, in the heart of the city.
I think that pocket parks are a great opportunity for anyone to make a significant difference for people in local communities.”
Intu Properties plc, Director of Corporate Responsibility, Alexander Nicoll, said:
"Intu Bromley has worked closely with TCV for several years and our current partnership, alongside local people, at a site in the heart of Bromley is our latest joint project. The Pocket Parks programme further empowers local partnerships, such as that between TCV and intu Bromley, to create green, accessible and local places for communities to enjoy.'
Bromley Green Gym Project Officer, Lizzy Kaimakamis, said:
‘The feeling of excitement amongst the volunteers is palpable as this funding with allow us to carry out some really exciting projects at College Green. We have great plans to diversify the park and create some really interesting features, for example this winter we will be planting 100s of hedgerow trees, filled with habitats for wildlife, as well as an urban orchard. New volunteers are always welcome to join in, get active and learn new skills!’
To find out more or join in at Bromley Green Gym contact Lizzy Kaimakamis at gg-bromley@tcv.org.uk or 07740 899 689
