Dig Merton has kicked off another project in Phipps Bridge and is calling on all green-fingered enthusiasts to get involved in the community planting scheme.
Phipps Bridge sisters Roqayah Jones and Tasharra Kerr with Sustainable Merton’s Michelle Kolattek
With its first pilot project successfully set up in DeBurgh Road Wimbledon, Dig Merton is a new community food and plant growing scheme in Merton run by organisations including Sustainable Merton, Merton Council, Circle Housing Merton Priory, Merton Chamber of Commerce, YMCA, Wandle Housing, Viridian and others. Anyone who is interested in getting involved in this community scheme is welcome to come along and join in at South Mitcham Community Centre in Phipps Bridge from 10.30am-12.30pm on 21, 23 and 28 August where the team will be transforming an overgrown planting area into a community herb garden. Dig Merton is encouraging as many local residents as possible of all ages to get involved.
With the aim of helping local people to create garden and food growing plots, Dig Merton has laid the roots of a community project in DeBurgh Road Wimbledon that neighbours living in the area are now looking after. They are also free to use the food that is growing there. The communal space now boasts fruit trees, including apple trees, pear trees and plum trees as well as colourful bedding plants thanks to the efforts of the Dig Merton team and the local residents.
Tacharra Kerr helps out at the Dig Merton scheme in Phipps Bridge
Leader of Merton Council, Councillor Stephen Alambritis, said: “Merton has a great tradition of gardening and Dig Merton aims to start greening all parts of our borough. This is a partnership project that is community driven, involving people of many different groups as well as individuals, united by a common ambition – to keep Merton a green borough as part of a green city.
“Community food and plant growing is a great way to make the most of unused sites and I’m really impressed with how DeBurgh Road has turned out and how much the local residents there enjoy being part of the project. I look forward to seeing new projects starting around Merton. I would encourage everyone to get digging with your local community!”
Sustainable Merton’s Tom Walsh said: “There are already a few movers and shakers in Merton turning their green fingers to good work for the community and they are getting involved in planting fruit, vegetables and wild flowers on public land across the borough. We know that there are people who really want to get involved in these types of projects and Dig Merton is a great way to get started. We’re delighted with how DeBurgh Road has turned out and the local residents there really love it and are making the most of it. I look forward to working with the local people of Phipps Bridge to create another fantastic community food and plant growing space.”
To keep up to date with the latest Dig Merton projects and to find out how you can get involved, contact Sustainable Merton on 020 3417 0476 and leave a message or keep up to date with the scheme by liking Dig Merton on Facebook .
Date: Thursday 21 August, Saturday 23 August and Thursday 28 August
Time: 10.30am-12.30pm
Venue: Area in front of South Mitcham Community Centre and the health centre in Phipps Bridge
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