A village green in the heart of London
Waterloo Millennium Green is the first new park in Lambeth
for 20
years. Working with local schools and groups has helped to create a
place that is not just a green space in the heart of the city but also
a centre for the whole community.
Pupils from Johanna Primary School planted the water feature transforming it into a beautiful marsh. The mix of waterfall, stream, pond and wildlife provide a calming influence in otherwise busy surroundings.
Local volunteers helped create a wildlife meadow, a habitat not
usually found in central London. A range of wildflowers create a carpet
of colour in the summer which attracts bees, butterflies and other
wildlife into the site.
History
In 1975 a successful application for Urban Aid to develop the site as an Adventure playground was made, and a small committee of parents to develop the site was formed.
An old Thames barge was moved to the site and converted into a play
hut. We must be the only playground around with a Noah’s Ark for a
play hut
local children remarked. However following funding cuts in
the early 80s the site gradually deteriorated and by the late 90s the
site was derelict.
In 1997 Waterloo Green Trust (WGT) set to work converting the site into one of the most innovative multi purpose sites in South London.
Local communities and local schools played a significant role in the success of the project, contributing both design ideas and resources to the regeneration.
The site now features the Green, Play Space for children and young people, and Living Space, an eco-friendly social enterprise.
