Great volunteers are hard to find, so when Northbrook Park Wetlands recently won the Large Urban Retrofit award at the annual Susdrain SuDS Awards, it was a win not only for the community, but recognition of the incredible work of a dedicated group of volunteers.
The Susdrain award ceremony, which took place in Newcastle this year, celebrates the best innovations and projects in nature-based solutions, and sustainable drainage.
Northbrook Park Wetlands is in the heart of Grove Park and is a much-loved green space used by the local community. This project has meant that not only can more people enjoy the spaces, but wildlife can flourish too.
The judging panel for the Susdrain SuDS Awards said of the project: “this project [is] “un-engineering” at its finest, demonstrating the value that can be created by retaining water within the landscape. This project… [has] transformed a “grass desert”, offering limited ecological benefit, into a substantially more ecologically diverse area.”
I met with the volunteers, including Grove Park Labour Councillor Hillary Moore, who have poured a great deal of time and effort into making the Northbrook Park Wetlands a safe and welcoming habitat for plant life and wildlife, all while allowing the public to carefully enjoy the space.
It is really important that we respect these spaces and maintain their condition, so that they can continue to be used, and continue the legacy of not only the park, but this incredible group of volunteers.
Emily, who works for Glendale Local, works across parks in Lewisham East. She has a wealth of knowledge about local ecology, and has supported an even bigger group of volunteers from across Lewisham, including primary school children. Emily shared that over 6,000 seeds have been planted at Northbrook Park Wetlands in preparation for the summer, and the hard work is definitely paying off!
I also met Clare, who has been volunteering in the project, having lived locally for twenty-five years. On winning the Large Urban Retrofit award, she said: “This will really put a spotlight on a relatively unknown corner of London, and it’s great to see the ideas and vision of those who worked on the project recognised. It’s a real haven for wildlife and for people too, and there are so many benefits to helping cultivate nature. The Wetlands are something of an oasis for absolutely everyone; we see people wander in from the park, people with prams, older people, and children.”
As the school holidays approach, and the warm weather continues, I encourage everyone to make the most of our fantastic parks and green spaces, which have been named the best in London by Parks for London’s Good Parks Guide. In addition to that, eight of our green spaces in Lewisham East have been given the internationally recognised Green Flag Award. These are:
- Beckenham Place Park
- Bellingham Green
- Chinbrook Meadows
- Forster Memorial Park
- Manor House Gardens
- Manor Park
- Mountsfield Park
- Northbrook Park
If you are interested in volunteering with the Northbrook Park Wetlands, they meet on the third Friday of every month. You can email them at: northbrookrag@yahoo.com.
