SE27 Beds and Planters
In February of 2024 we took on an exciting new project to maintain ten depaved beds along Norwood Road, the main shopping street of West Norwood and Tulse Hill. We will also be looking after the planters on the Norwood Works industrial estate where Bzz Garage is based. We are working in partnership with Station to Station, our local Business Improvement District and are following through on the great work of our friends at South London Botanical Institute who were responsible for creating the beds in 2021. The beds are a tough environment for plants and the beds have suffered due to the drought of 2022, wet winters and plant theft. However, we are looking forward to the challenge of renewing the planting.
SE27 Street Gardeners
We are building a dedicated group of volunteer street gardeners to nurture these pockets of greenery. If you are into urban greening, want to have a space to garden and would like to connect to your neighbourhood, get in contact! The group will meet for relaxed Sunday morning gardening sessions with optional cafe/pub socials afterwards. No gardening experience is needed - you'll learn plenty about urban greening and we will grow our knowledge together. Tools provided but bring gloves if you have them! You can give as much time as suits you - Spring and Summer we will meet twice monthly. Sessions are stand alone but we are hoping for some regulars! There may be an opportunity to take on a bed with another person if you are a keen gardener.
This is an emerging project so there will be an opportunity to have a big impact on greening our shopping and industrial area.
Interested? Please email for more details about the next session.
In February of 2024 we took on an exciting new project to maintain ten depaved beds along Norwood Road, the main shopping street of West Norwood and Tulse Hill. We will also be looking after the planters on the Norwood Works industrial estate where Bzz Garage is based. We are working in partnership with Station to Station, our local Business Improvement District and are following through on the great work of our friends at South London Botanical Institute who were responsible for creating the beds in 2021. The beds are a tough environment for plants and the beds have suffered due to the drought of 2022, wet winters and plant theft. However, we are looking forward to the challenge of renewing the planting.
SE27 Street Gardeners
We are building a dedicated group of volunteer street gardeners to nurture these pockets of greenery. If you are into urban greening, want to have a space to garden and would like to connect to your neighbourhood, get in contact! The group will meet for relaxed Sunday morning gardening sessions with optional cafe/pub socials afterwards. No gardening experience is needed - you'll learn plenty about urban greening and we will grow our knowledge together. Tools provided but bring gloves if you have them! You can give as much time as suits you - Spring and Summer we will meet twice monthly. Sessions are stand alone but we are hoping for some regulars! There may be an opportunity to take on a bed with another person if you are a keen gardener.
This is an emerging project so there will be an opportunity to have a big impact on greening our shopping and industrial area.
Interested? Please email for more details about the next session.
What is Depaving?
Depaving is the process of removing hard surfaces such as concrete and tarmac and replacing them with materials such as soil and gravel (and sometimes permeable paving which allows water to move through it).
Climate Benefits of Norwood Road Beds
- Reduces flash flood risk, an increasing issue because climate change is causing more frequent and intense rainfall. Green areas in streets slows down the flow of rainfall into our sewers. This also reduces the need to release polluting sewage into waterways (this is what water companies do when the sewage system is overwhelmed by heavy rainfall).
- Adding more greenery in urban areas cools down our streets; reducing urban heat which is becoming a health threat as the planet warms
- Adding more greenery improves air quality. We can’t see it but poor air quality is a serious issue for London.Trees and plants act as filters for urban pollutants and fine particulates by trapping the nasties in their leaves and bark.
- Adding plants that support pollinators, will improve biodiversity (no pollinators = food shortage for humans)
Depaving is the process of removing hard surfaces such as concrete and tarmac and replacing them with materials such as soil and gravel (and sometimes permeable paving which allows water to move through it).
Climate Benefits of Norwood Road Beds
- Reduces flash flood risk, an increasing issue because climate change is causing more frequent and intense rainfall. Green areas in streets slows down the flow of rainfall into our sewers. This also reduces the need to release polluting sewage into waterways (this is what water companies do when the sewage system is overwhelmed by heavy rainfall).
- Adding more greenery in urban areas cools down our streets; reducing urban heat which is becoming a health threat as the planet warms
- Adding more greenery improves air quality. We can’t see it but poor air quality is a serious issue for London.Trees and plants act as filters for urban pollutants and fine particulates by trapping the nasties in their leaves and bark.
- Adding plants that support pollinators, will improve biodiversity (no pollinators = food shortage for humans)
