The importance of greenery

[poppy]

I thought I would start a new thread on this issue. Here is a reply I posted to the Sydenham station thread, which I think might get lost there:

I totally agree Lee about landscaping and if an area looks well looked after people tend to respect it.

The lower part of Sydenham Road (Bell Green) area is an extreme example of how an unloved area becomes even more unloved! It could look so much better.

Without wishing to offend people who live in that part of Sydenham, I find the walk down that end to Sydenham Green surgery pretty depressing. The buildings which have made an effort with landscaping look really good. Like the flats past Trewsbury road and the ones at the bottom of Champion road. Even Kwik Fit has made a good effort!

I think Lewisham council really needs to consider this issue, Bromley council seem to take it really seriously and plough loads of money into it, just look at their town hall gardens next to the Glades! And I'm not talking about just a few hanging baskets!

[Annie]

Ihave always thought that it's down hill all the way once you see grafitti,then follows the rubbish dropped in the streets, then the shops keep their bins out front, usually overflowing.

There are many many areas in London like this now, as soon as you turn into an area you can tell if its good or bad simply by the above.
shame on those people who blight an area with their selfish ways.

Thats why i send E.Mails and make phone calls to Lewisham council when i see grafitti and untaxed / dumped cars, keep them on their toes trhats what we pay a very high council tax for.

[sean]

I have contacted the station and am currently talking to them about improving the area with flowers etc. If you want to get involved email me sean_james_cameron[@]hotmail.com

[MissDee]

It is really disturbing to see some parts are not taken care off at all.
I also do not understand people who just drop their rubbish/tv/bed in front of their own houses.
I also am amazed when standing on platform 2 seeing all the rubbish lying around behind the gates...why the council doesnt take maybe 20 minutes to clean this up?
It is a shame for the area really....

[leenewham]

I'm all for planting if its well maintained and adds something. I'm against planting if its plonking a wooden planter with a few shrubs in it which becomes a glorified bin.

If its well considered and fits in with where it is supposed to be then all the better. Again it would be worth the Brockley Cross action group on this as they have done a fantastic job. The council will do it as cheaply as possible and drop some generic planters in place.

Perhaps we could pursuade the owners of the cab company to have some more refined signage rather than lots of yellow illuminated signs screaming WE ARE HERE...HERE WE ARE...LOOK...WE ARE A CAB COMPANY..HERE, NOT THERE...CANS..HERE...LOOK...CABS...TAXIS...

[nasaroc]

Lee - Surely the best way to ensure that the station area is planted out correctly is to get involved with the planting or the planning of the planting with Sean and others.


Sean - you have a great idea here and I think it's one that should be financed by the local neighbourhood budget. Once it has shown to be successful, it could be extended to other parts of Sydenham. I agree with Lee that this sort of thing isn't best done by the council and needs local people actually in charge of the project to be done well.


Count me in. I've pm'd you my details. Lee - will you be joining us?

[sean]

Can I suggest we meet for a drink and discuss what can be done, when and where in relation to adding more floral displays to the area? Let's make this Summer the most colourful scent filled streets the area has seen/smelt.

[poppy]

I see the architects' offices on Kirkdale (opposite Jews walk) have been planting up the area outside their offices. Which when established I am sure will look great. Let's hope other businesses take their lead. I did email Lloyds bank about the dreadful concrete/weed infested patch of land outside their branch opposite the station on Sydenham road, but never heard back from them.

Does anyone else fancy taking this up? I am not sure what else to do.

I am not sure if they own it or the council. But it really wouldn't take much money or effort to improve this area.

[pupak]

Check out guerrillagardening.org
You can post where you want to do some urban planting and find other guerilla gardeners to help you.
There was a recent discussion about doing some planting at Forest Hill train station.

[sean]

I am putting together a group of local people interested in gardening and doing up these hot spots around the town. If you are interested in joining them send me an email via here. We already have 6 people interested and have positive feedback from local businesses about which areas to target.