Croydon has a new park, to add to the more than 120 large and small already dotted around the borough.
Dig this: some of the hard-working volunteers arrive at Coulsdon South to put the finishing touches to the new pocket park
This latest is undoubtedly one of the smaller ones: it’s a pocket park, wedged into a small space between the footpath from Marlpit Lane and Platform 1 at Coulsdon South Station.
A bit of space which would otherwise stand neglected and unloved, the work to brighten it up with donated plants and planters has been done by volunteers who look after The Hive garden behind Coulsdon Library.
Rail operators Govia Thameslink cleared the area, and two large planters are in place along with benches and seats. A gate to the area has also been added.
The not-so-grand opening (it is just a small pocket park, after all) was held on Sunday, with Coulsdon locals and others coming along to help with planting the area with shrubs and flowers.
“The pocket park has already much improved the look of the front of the station,” according to the local residents’ association.
Planters: the pocket park has been created by volunteers, with plants given by a garden centre and even some donated Shetland pony manure
This kind of “guerilla gardening” has helped to transform many scraps of otherwise unloved land into valued areas shared by the community – such as the Sensible Garden which opened in South Norwood more than 10 years ago, thanks to help from Robbie Gibson of the Crystal Palace Transition Town and the enthusiastic South Norwood Tourist Board. Captain Sensible even performed a set to celebrate the occasion.
No such musical accompaniment was reported at Coulsdon South on Sunday, but they, too, had plenty of volunteer help, with donated plants from Dobbies garden centre, advice from The Travelling Garden and some pony manure shovelled up from Kingswood Shetlands.
For future work days and volunteer opportunities, check the community noticeboard on the site, or click here to contact the nice people at The Hive.
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