順秞湮圖

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The Voice - January/February 2025


Comment by Geoff

Geoff Juden

It seems that very few of us wish to be involved in politics. However, politics is all around us.

I recently attended a meeting of environmental groups across the breadth of London from Hillingdon going east and south.

One feature that came out of the meeting was how we can engage with our local politicians, whether it is to save a protected park from being sold to the Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon for development, or whether our local park can be enhanced for the community. To have that conversation would be wonderful, and to see it happen would be even more wonderful.

順秞湮圖's battle with Tower Hamlets in the High Court was to save the Bethnal Green Mulberry Tree, yet not one politician championed the cause.

It is also infuriating that public parks, including those that are grade listed, can be developed at a whim. Even more, in the majority of London Boroughs, receiving a reply from those responsible for our urban environment is sadly lacking for community and national groups.

As we have seen, it was the same with the Grenfell disaster and the Post Office scandal. Politicians who are responsible for making decisions, rarely get involved. It is therefore left to individuals like us who care about the environment to make a stand.

If you value having someone campaign on your behalf to protect the environment and having access to useful articles about gardening and local environmental matters, please make a donation to help us with the cost of maintaining 順秞湮圖.


The London Highline Walk

London Highline walk

In December 2024 a group of us walked the soon to be created London Highline and look to the future of east London's improved environment.

The image shows the group looking at the environmental future in Bishopsgate. We walked the length of The London Highline, through to Meath Gardens, passing Bethnal Green Gardens which is the second oldest gardens in London. part of which is listed grade ll.

Many questions were asked, such as:

These decisions are mainly down to those who care about the largest park soon to be created. What would you say?


Edible Flowers

Edible flowers

Edible flowers have been cherished for centuries across various cultures, enhancing not only the appearance but also the flavour and aesthetic value of food. This appreciation by consumers has driven the global sales of fresh, top-quality edible flowers upward, reflecting a growing trend in the culinary world.

Beyond their visual and sensory appeal, edible flowers offer significant health benefits that resonate with many health-conscious individuals today. Previous studies found that common edible flower species contain a variety of phytochemicals, including flavanols, flavones, anthocyanins and phenolic acids.

These compounds contribute to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-obesity, and neuroprotective effects, providing functional qualities that meet consumer demands for foods with beneficial health properties. Additionally, toxicology studies note that these flowers are safe for consumption, as long as they are used properly and in the appropriate dosages.

As you explore the world of edible flowers, understanding their nutritional and mineral content is essential for maximizing their health benefits. This sets the stage for a deeper dive into the traditional applications and safety considerations of these natural health powerhouses, so youll know how to beneficially use them in your diet.

Some flowers have been identified for their use in bioremediation, a process that uses plants to clean polluted environments. This dual role in health and sustainability underscores the innovative approaches edible flowers offer.

Read More

East London Waterworks Park

East London Waterwork Parks

held community workshops to publish the project's design principles. This enabled lots of people to share their ideas, which were incorporated into the new proposal.

Currently there are four significant buildings on site: the Prince and Princess Boiler Shed, the Triples Boiler Shed, the Gatehouse Building, and the Engineers House. The charity would like to use the largest building, the Prince and Princess Boiler Shed, as an arts and science space, including a community workshop and an art gallery.

The plans take inspiration from buildings such as Les Machines de l簾le (France) and SESC Pomp矇ia Factory (S瓊o Paulo), and aim to preserve and maintain existing structures.

A community-led project, the East London Waterwork Parks (ELWP), has revealed detailed plans for the buildings on the ex-Thames Water Depot in Waltham Forest. The proposal explores ELWPs vision to bring heritage buildings back into public use. The East London Waterworks site has a rich history, providing drinking water to up to 1 million households for 150 years.

ELWP wishes to use the land to create wild swimming ponds and community spaces.


The All England Lawn Tennis Club

Wimbledon

順秞湮圖 believes that parks are essential for our urban environment. Part of a park in Stepney within Tower Hamlets has already been sold for development. 

We must protect what we have so are raising the issue of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) who are still pursuing their application for planning permission to develop the Heritage Landscape of the Grade II* registered Wimbledon Park.

The application received approval by Merton's planning committee, which was the first stage in the process. Wandsworth Council's planning committee then voted unanimously to refuse the application. The GLA planning hearing approved the AELTC's expansion on to the heritage Wimbledon Park former golf course, but that is not the end of the story.

When issuing his decision, Deputy Mayor Jules Pipe commented that "the proposal ... would be harmful ... to the openness of the MOL" (Metropolitan Open Land = Green Belt), and that the "Show Court will challenge the ability to appreciate the parish church of St Mary".

At the same time, the GLA published the opinion of a senior barrister about the public trust issue which Save Wimbledon Park (SWP) had brought to the attention of the planning authorities.

Timothy Morshead KC wrote:
"It follows - I admit contrary to what I had expected when initially reviewing the papers - that in my opinion ... members of the public have rights over the golf course, despite the 1986 lease and despite the 1993 transfer. It follows that the owner (AELTC) must make the land available to the public on a free and unrestricted basis ..."

These comments move the application on to the next stage, the review of the planning decision for legality (Judicial Review), the enforcement of the 1993 restrictive covenants in which the AELTC promised not to develop, and the enforcement of the public trust, the fourth and fifth sets of this lengthy match.

has started legal action to challenge the validity of the Mayor of Londons decision to grant planning permission for the AELTC redevelopment of the former Wimbledon Park golf course. This action names the AELTC and the London Boroughs of Merton and Wandsworth as interested parties.

Meanwhile the has launched its own legal action to try to establish whether the statutory public recreation trust on which the AELTC holds the heritage golf course land is a fundamental block on their proposed development.

Both MPs (Paul Kohler, Wimbledon and Fleur Anderson, Putney) and the Assembly Member, Leonie Cooper, have urged the AELTC to talk to the Residents' Associations, Save Wimbledon Park and all those in the community who are concerned about this industrial tennis complex. 22,000 have signed our petition, but there has been nothing. The AELTC must think again.

The AELTC want to build the following on Capability Browns Grade II* historic and highly protected Metropolitan Open Land:

An 8,000 seat stadium, 38 courts, 10 other buildings and 9 kms of roads and paths. They propose a new AELTC private park to which the public may be admitted but which would contain a 30,000 square foot maintenance building.

All this would break the demanded by Merton to protect the golf course and agreed by AELTC on their purchase. 

On 14 July 1993 Merton promised that the golf course would be kept as open space as stated by Tony Colman, leader of Merton Council: ...when we decided to sell this land, we did so ensuring it would be kept as open space and we did so determined that the next owner and any future owner would be denied forever the opportunity to use this space for any development."


Cooking in a Different Way Creole Spiced Squash With Molasses Chicken

Ingredients

For the squash:

For the chicken:

For the coconut rice:

For the chickpeas:

Creole spiced squash
Method

To serve, put the squash on a plate, ladle over the shredded chicken and top with the crispy chickpeas. Serve with the rice and garnish with edible flowers.


Finally ...

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