Category Archives: Parks & open spaces

Bermondsey in Bloom competition returns for 2017

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The Bermondsey in Bloom Competition is open for entries once more this month.

There will be prizes and certificates for the top three entrants (decided by independent judges) in each of the following categories:

  • Balconies and window boxes
  • Pubs and businesses
  • Community gardens
  • Edible gardens and allotments
  • Estates gardens
  • Resident gardens

The competition is open to all residents who live in the following wards:

  • Riverside
  • Grange
  • South Bermondsey
  • Surrey Docks

Full details at http://salmonyouthcentre.org/bloom2017

Southwark Park community allotment to share in Tesco plastic bag windfall

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Photo 01-03-2016, 16 36 05The CGP community allotment in Southwark Park is to receive a grant from the Tesco ‘Bags of Help’ scheme – but shoppers will determine how much cash the garden receives

Tesco has allocated £30,000 to community projects in and around Southwark in the second round of its Bags of Help scheme, funded by the proceeds of the mandatory 5p charge for plastic carrier bags introduced in England last autumn.

The amount each project receives will depend on where it is ranked in a public vote against two others: £12,000 will be granted for first place, £10,000 for second and £8,000 for third.

Customers in Southwark stores will receive a token at the checkout and be asked to place it in the box of the project they favour the most.

The three contenders are:

  • Melior Street Garden, SE1
  • CGP Community Allotment in Southwark Park, SE16
  • Somerville Kitchen Garden, Lee SE12

Voting continues until Sunday 6 March in the stores listed below.

Participating Tesco stores in Southwark

  • Tesco Extra – Surrey Quays
  • Tesco Superstore – Old Kent Road
  • Tesco Metro – Tooley Street
  • Tesco Metro – Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre
  • Tesco Metro – Jamaica Road
  • Tesco Express – Tower Bridge Road
  • Tesco Express – The Cut
  • Tesco Express – Borough Road
  • Tesco Express – Great Suffolk Street
  • Tesco Express – New Kent Road
  • Tesco Express – Long Lane
  • Tesco Express – Camberwell New Road
  • Tesco Express – Peckham
  • Tesco Express – East Dulwich
  • Tesco Express – Queen’s Road Peckham
  • Tesco Express – Southwark Park Road
  • Tesco Express – Walworth Road
  • Tesco Express – Camberwell

Greg Rusedski opens Southwark Park’s new tennis courts

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Greg Rusedski this week visited Southwark Park to unveil two new tennis courts.

The new courts were funded with £80,000 through Bermondsey & Rotherhithe Community Council’s Cleaner Greener Safer grants fund, with the London Marathon Charitable Trust also contributing £50,000 to the project.

Cllr Barrie Hargrove, cabinet member of public health, parks and leisure said, “The demand for tennis facilities in the borough has been increasing amongst local people of all ages, especially with the recent success of some of the UK’s top players.

“With almost 10,000 people visiting the park’s existing courts last year, these two new courts will provide accessible and quality facilities, and mean greater availability for everyone – especially children and young people in the borough keen to take up the sport.”

Former British number one Greg Rusedski said: “It is fantastic to see councils like Southwark investing in grassroots sport in this way.

“Accessible facilities are so important to getting young people especially involved in tennis, and who knows they could be playing at Wimbledon one day too.”

Southwark Park fireworks – ticketing system introduced

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Southwark Council has confirmed that it will stage the usual 5 November fireworks display in Southwark Park – and it will remain free of charge –  but this year for the first time visitors will need to book a ticket in advance.

Cllr Ian Wingfield, cabinet member for business, employment and culture, said:

We know how popular this event has become in recent years, with the number of people attending increasing by 175% since 2012. While that is fantastic for the borough, our utmost priority is to ensure the fireworks remain a safe event for all. 33,000 attended last year’s event, with thousands more waiting to get in the park as the display began. That is why this year we have decided to ticket the event to help us manage crowds. Tickets will be free but will need to be secured online in advance.

We want as many people as possible to enjoy the show safely and I’m sure all attending this great community and family event will recognise the hard work being done to ensure this is the case.

Tickets for this year’s fireworks will be available at www.southwark.gov.uk/fireworks

Neighbouring Lambeth Council has this year cancelled its fireworks display after an unsuccessful experiment with ticketing last year.

Shine Night Walk organisers warn of crowds in Southwark Park area

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Cancer Research UK is advising local residents that the area around Southwark Park will be busy on Saturday evening 26 September as thousands of people converge on Southwark Park for the start of the charity’s Shine Night Walk .

The inside lane of Jamaica Road will be closed from Southwark Park to the junction with St James’s Road from 7pm until midnight.  This will affect access to Southwark Park Road, Drummond Road, Keeton’s Road and St James’s Road.

Jamaica Road, Tower Bridge Road, Tooley Street and Lower Road are likely to be congested until 11.30pm.

Bus stops on Jamaica Road will also be affected.

Traffic management stewards will be supervising the area on the night and clear signage will be displayed prior to the event.

Shine Night Walk, in partnership with Scottish Power, brings a unique glow to the capital as participants illuminate themselves with lights, flashing headbands and sparkling outfits to form a human road of light as they walk through the capital.

The moving parade of light symbolises the hope the charity’s research scientists bring to the dark days of cancer and celebrates the progress that has been made so far.

Organisers hope this year 17,000 men, women and children will paint the town neon and help raise almost £5 million to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured. Since it began in 2010, Shine Night Walk has raised  £18 million to help fund Cancer Research UK’s lifesaving work.

12,000 at Bermondsey Carnival

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Southwark Council says that a record-breaking 12,000 people attended Saturday’s Bermondsey Carnival in Southwark Park

 

Cllr Ian Wingfield, deputy leader and cabinet member for business, employment and culture, said, “Bermondsey Carnival was incredible. It was such a great event for everyone to enjoy last weekend at our excellent Southwark Park. People really came out in their numbers to support the wonderful acts and take part in some of the fun activities on the day. I’m delighted it was such a terrific success. A massive thank you to all organisers and everyone that got involved and attended on the day.”

Mayor of Southwark, Cllr Dora Dixon-Fyle said: “It was great to see so many people from the community out at the Bermondsey Carnival. Summer events in Southwark are always a real treat for our residents.  I’m sure that everyone that attended had an amazing time.  The carnival is an amazing opportunity for local groups, traders and entertainers to show people what they do. This year’s line-up of music was fantastic and I was delighted to see so many people enjoying themselves on the day!”

Phil Burkett of Bermondsey Beat said: “What an amazing day! The sun shone, the crowds came, the people smiled and the music played. This was another fantastic and successful Bermondsey Carnival and a perfect example of the community working closely with the council to bring Southwark together for a day in one of London’s best parks. It was such an entertaining weekend. Southwark Park is truly the park with the spark.

 

Council proposes time limit for parking in Southwark Park

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From the Southwark Council website:

Stakeholders have asked that the council carry out a review of parking within Southwark Park.

The aim of the project is to improve the parking facilities for genuine park visitors.

The review covers the road that runs between Gomm Gate and Southwark Park Road Gate, as well as the car park off Hawkstone Road.

Full details here.

Trading opportunities at Bermondsey Carnival

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The date has been set for the Bermondsey Carnival on Saturday 4 July.

Now the application process for traders is open.

From the letter to potential traders:

Opportunities are available for commercial traders, catering concessions, charities, community organisations, fun concessions and even for local individuals through our Rumble in the Jumble area.

The application form is also online.