Marian Temple, guerrilla gardener, who invited Wansteadium readers to join her in sorting out the garden areas around Wanstead Station last Sunday morning, writes:
Obviously this was the place to see and be seen. Unfortunately, quite a few people were going off to see a crowd of people running 26 miles. Not a brilliant piece of organisation on the part of M. Temple! However – five of us met at the station for a “clean up sad patches of soil†session.
Amazing how much we got done. Masses of weeding, and it’s the right time to do it as the weeds are not yet at the point where they shed seeds as you yank ‘em out. Masses of litter removing, a whole green bag full of recyclables. Station staff happy to fill our watering can. Geraniums planted on the outer patches where they should delight Wansteadians later on in the season and bits of other plantery happened.
We need another session to clean up – maybe three more patches and start a bit of serious planting. Also, I’ve got loads of wild flower seeds which can be scattered around. Suggest this Sunday 20th 11.00 at the station. Hopefully, nobody will be running 26miles but I expect there’ll be some other unmissable event to give us competition. Never mind. All welcome, kids especially. No gardening experience at all necessary but might be useful to bring any garden tools and gloves if you have ‘em.
See you at the station. Marian Temple.
UPDATE: Ouf! I see that the 20th is actually Easter Sunday. Why do these events keep getting in the way of serious Wanstead plantery? Nevertheless, we’ll stick to this date and hope that a few people can come along. My thinking is that the weekend is the best time for many people but at this time of year, it’s wise to get rid of weeds as soon as poss. Another week of glorious sunshine and they’ll be joyously shedding seeds as we pull them out. I expect there will be another session after this one so watch this space.
Chapeau!
Sincere thanks on behalf of all of us locals too lazy/hungover to get out and help you improve our neighbourhood.
Keep up the good work!
Hello Marion, I will be there. I have my eye on the roundabout with a bald patch. I am going to “Scrounge” some resilient strong grass plants to put there. Looking forward to it. Wanstead needs love. Peace x jeanie
I’d love to come and help but can’t do Easter Sunday keep us updated I’ll try for the next one. Keep up the good work it makes a big difference and is appreciated
Going back to work after the Easter hols will be all the more pleasant now- thank you very much Marion and volunteers.
Looks Fab. Will litter pick when passing during the week.
If the council does not object then a very useful thing to do would be to keep the shrubs cut down on the island next to the roundabout to the side of The George. Wouldn’t add anything aesthetically, but would be a great contribution to safety. They obliterate the view of traffic coming east across the junction heading for the Redbridge roundabout to anyone turning. The council does attend to them when reminded, but only then – which is appalling.