An example of what Effra Green Streets has achieved on a local estate
On Bank Holiday Monday, we visited the Effra Green Streets project, part of Lambeth Living Streets. The project is a community initiative to improve the streets just south of Brixton town centre. Effra Green Streets works with volunteers, residents and funders to bring plants, trees and biodiversity back to our urban environment.
The project started when WGG member Jon and his wife created a small, informal parklet outside their house during Covid. This has expanded over time. Dozens of volunteers and latterly, a part time professional gardener, are now involved, alongside Lambeth sustainable transport and the national charity Living Streets.
Effra Green Streets now encompasses pavement gardens in Rattray, Jelf and Barnwell Roads, daffodils in tree pits, planters on five streets (recently built but abandoned), Lambeth Council flower beds on Dalberg, Jelf and Rattray Roads, and a new apple orchard, wildflower garden, and woodland garden on Brockwell Park Estate.
The group has plans to build a rain garden on the Effra Parade side of Brockwell Park Estate, create a bus stop garden on Dalberg Road and to engage with Lambeth Highways to encourage interventions to slow down speeding traffic and reduce traffic levels.
Water Harvesting
Water harvesting is an exciting and highly topical component of the project. Effra Green Streets was recently awarded significant funding to test harvesting water from the rooftop of an estate block to different destinations – rain garden, pond, water tanks and bog garden. The financial potential to inpact on water rates is one to watch, as this would surely be a massive incentive.
WGG is hugely impressed by the amount of work that’s been done to transform this area into a pleasanter and more wildlife-friendly space, and the involvement of so many volunteers from the community.
Effra Green Streets always welcomes new volunteers – Friday and Sunday mornings, for anything from one to five hours, depending on the weather. Contact @effragreenstreets on Instagram or visit the area.