Published: Monday 14 December 2020
A new mini park will provide an environmental boost to North Kensington after residents teamed up with Kensington and Chelsea Council to secure £35,000 funding from the Mayor of London.
Members of the Swinbrook Estate Residents’ Association worked with the Council’s environmental services team to successfully apply for the money from the Grow Back Greener Fund, which aims to provide the capital with a green recovery from Covid-19.
The grant will fund a mini park along Acklam Road including up to 15 trees as well as pollinating, woodland and marsh plants and climbers along existing railings.
Installation of the park, which will become part of a borough-wide “bee superhighway”, will involve the removal of street clutter and the creation of opportunities for community gardening, volunteering events and skills training for all ages.
The Council will support Swinbrook Residents’ Association to develop and maintain the scheme in coming years.
Other benefits include:
- Reducing rainfall runoff to surface drains
- Increasing biodiversity by creating habitats
- Improving air quality through careful species selection
- Reducing noise pollution with green screening and new permeable paving to replace concrete ground
Swinbrook Estate Residents’ Association Project Lead Cynthia Dize said:
“Air quality is an important issue for Swinbrook Estate residents due to the proximity to the Westway, so the idea of using our Estate Improvement Budget along with extra funding from the Mayor of London and Westway Trust to ‘green’ Acklam Road was truly welcomed.
“We hope this project will improve the air, promote nature and look beautiful too.”
Cllr Kim Taylor-Smith, Deputy Leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council, said:
“This is a wonderful opportunity to make this vibrant residential area a greener place for the people who live here as well as the wider community.
“I hope that residents of all ages will get involved in a project which can offer so much in terms of learning and environmental awareness.”
Additional funding for this project has also been secured from the Westway Trust and the Swinbrook Estate’s Improvement Budget. The project is due to begin in Spring 2021 following consultation with local residents.