Flower Pit Walk in West Hampstead

8/13/2019 Flower Pit Walk in West Hampstead

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ConnectWest Hampstead and

bring life and colour to the streets with a

flower pit walk

MILLLANE

IVERSO

NROA

DMAYG

ROVE

ROAD

SHOOTUPHILL W

ESTENDLANE

KILBURN

TUBE STATION

WEST

HAMPSTEAD

TUBE STATION

FORD

WYCH

ROAD

PARKFORTUNE GREEN

RAILW

AYLIN

ES

RAILWAY LINES

PARK MAYGROVE

PARK WEST END GREEN


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forhealtha circuit around West Hampstead

is excerciseand also reminds

residents about theamenities that

lie outside their immediate area

Whya flower pit walk around West Hampstead?

because we canFordwych Road, Maygrove

Road and Aldred Road

already have tree pits and

green areas. Where there

are no tree pits, there are

surprising alternatives seepage 5.

to combatisolationA walk is an opportunity for meeting.

A flower pit is an excuse for talking.

For down-sizers, a tree pit could become

a substitute mini-garden and provide a

reason to go outdoors.

for retailersin many high streets retailers

are using planting to attract

customers. In our area some doalready such as Davids Deli

and Achillea Flowers.

www.achilleaflowers.com/gallery.html

tosignpostandpromote Camdensamenitiesuse flower pits to draw more residents

to the parks, playgrounds and green

spaces that encircle West Hampstead.Also a walk needs a map.

A map is an opportunity to inform and

publicise locally and on the web.

to bring life tothe streetsEmpty streets can encourage

and enable criminality.


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MILLLANE

IVERSO

NROA

DMAYG

ROVE

ROAD

SHOOTUPHILL

WESTENDLANE

KILBURN

TUBE STATION

WEST HAMPSTEAD

TUBE STATION

railway line

railwaylin

es

FORD

WY

CHROAD

A path thatcrossesa divide

connecting 1Fortune Green and2 the Library and 3 theFarmers Market

and4 the Playground and

5 West End Green and Mill Lane

and6 Maygrove Peace Park and

West End Lane and cancreate new places of

interest too.

7 Mill Lane railway bridge childrens murals

8 the tree boulevard on Fordwych Road

1

8

5

7

6

4

2

3


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Residents manage and do the workmeet neighbors and ideas blossom. Four flower pits,then more, then herb cornerwhich grew beansand finally floral shoes.

A grassroot project started by a Fordwych Road resident.

Howis it done?

*The shoes remain a mystery


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Ideas and enthusiam into reality year after year?

Practicalities?

adopt a tree pit format divided into local hubs

web-based

eco planting advice

link with Friends groups

We realise that we wont

have 100% take up but

including local children and

established Friends groups,

there is a fair chance that

this could grow over time.

Local Primary and

Nursery Schools

to plant

Criminal damage and safety?

Our problems.Many pubs and restaurants have

planters with greenery.

If we had Camdens approval,

we could discuss this issue with

Camden and traders to find a small

range of proven, approved solutions.

No tree pits?

ground level / planters?several Mill Lane shops use

planters for colour

Planter bike stands

or

above / window boxes?

north side Mill Lane, there

are residents window boxes

above the shops

bus stops? ediblewww.theediblebusstop.org/

living green roof


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KILBURNTUBE

Fordwych Road is a handsome avenue of Plane trees.

It has survived two wars and has a blue plaque.

Domestic architectural styles range from the 1870s to the 1920s.

Some houses seem lifted out of a childrens story book.

Fifty years ago famillies would know each other.

The street would be have filled with children.

These days its a route to somewhere else.

Maybe due to the quietness and some neglected properties,

there is now crime, bulglary, fly-tipping and last year a sexual

assault, an attack on a young girl which no one heard nor saw.

But this summer it felt like something changed.

An example of the problem


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Hellos and flowers have made all the difference to me at any rate. I walk

around more and feel safer. Im now a tree pit gardener. Through tree pit chat,

I have met neighbours. For me the street is now a dynamic space. More front

gardens are being tended. Like a comic book plot ending, the dark elements areshrinking away and flowers are taking their place.

What if 21st century attitudes to what a street is and can become, change?

Perhaps our streets can contribute to our lives and wellbeing. Supposition, I

know but what if informal flower pits planted by residents can make even a tiny

difference? Isnt it worth a try?

Smallthingsthat can change

a street

An individual. N. who greets

everyone,spends long days tending

his buildings garden and walks a

neighbours two dogs three times a day.

The Kids Company House.What they

do and how they do it radiates.

In summer 2012, the first appearance

of flowers in the tree pits.

An example of the problem


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Mill Lane railway bridge

For 2000 local children painted trees

on the panels of the bridge but nowtaggers are taking this over.

Two projects:

New tree pit murals

With the local Primary schools, repaint

the existing childrens paintings and

develop a theme of trees in flower pits.We couldoffer voluntary support.

Toddlers train watch-spot

On the pavement, set well back from the

road, local toddlers stop to watch trains go

by through the fence.

Perhaps mark a simple, safe viewing spot.

Perhaps a small, low, raised platform.

We couldprovide child-friendly information

about trains on a child-height notice board.

Camden Town Shed could design and make.

How Camden Council could help with the path

areciprocalrelationship

Allow flower planting

in tree pits on the route.

We couldpublicise.

A council contact

andofficialsupport

for this proposal.

We couldthenapproach the localtraders association to

discuss practical

proposals for

West End Lane

and Mill Lane. From

speaking to a few on

West End Lane there

would be interest.

Appreciating spending cuts

provide garden compost

or whatever is feasible

We couldorganise delivery

and distribution point.


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Link

The Blackstock Triangle

http://outofmyshed.co.uk/tag/blackstock-triangle-gardeners/

council: Islington

Link

Islington Council / Tree pits

https://www.islington.gov.uk/services/parks-environment/parks/getting_involved/

Pages/treepits.aspx

council: Islington

Link

Ryland Road, NW5

http://www.pimpyourpavement.com/blind-pimping/

council: Camden

Link

Blenheim Gardens

http://www.mapra.org.uk/Blenheim.htm

council: Brent

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Flower Pit Walk in West Hampstead