Veolia and Lambeth Council’s Freshview scheme have partnered with the Herne Hill Forum and Turney School to install 10 new planters around Herne Hill Station Square, writes Ethan Delcroix-Jones.
Over two days last month, nearly 20 local residents and eight students from Turney School, one of two SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) schools in Lambeth, helped build, paint and fill the planters (made from recycled scaffolding boards) with peat-free compost made from garden waste collected from homes across London – including Lambeth.
The planters were positioned around Station Square, the open space outside Herne Hill train station. Veolia say they are a positive addition to an area which was semi-pedestrianised in 2012 to reduce problems with traffic congestion.
Steve Verrier, Veolia’s senior contract manager, said: “Freshview is a great example of the circular economy at work. We collect food and garden waste from households, recycle it into compost and use it to fill planters for community projects. The planters are made from scaffold boards that would have otherwise been discarded, so it’s great to be involved in projects that preserve and reuse valuable resources.”
Cllr Claire Holland, deputy leader of Lambeth council (environment and clean air) said: “It is fantastic to see the people of Herne Hill come together to improve their local environment. Freshview has been running for 12 years and is a great initiative that makes a real difference to the street scene, so our public spaces are more attractive and enjoyable places to spend time. I hope more and more residents keep coming forward to take part and explore the different ways they can improve their local area.”
