The Wandle Valley in South West London is one of four regional park opportunity areas identified in the London Plan with the potential to improve access to linked areas of open space and provide an important resource for a wide catchment area.
The challenge for Global to Local is to create gateways to the River Wandle which reflect the style and character of the surrounding areas. These range from semi-rural to industrial landscapes running through business estates. Some stretches run through suburban residential areas.
For information on accessing Landfill Communities Funds, contact peter.joyce@globaltolocal.com
Gateway features will be designed to greatly increase access to the river, and will include the following works:
- Welcoming signs using attractive artwork
- Feature paving and railings at entrances
- Waymarking signs
- Landscaping and the creation of natural features such as flower meadows
- The use of landscapes which will encourage wildlife and species which are rare in London
- Landscapes which will reduce the need for watering or intensive maintenance and which will be adapted to climate change
- Interpretative boards carrying information about the area and its wildlife.
Completion is programmed for the summer of 2010.
Wandle Gateways Project
The Global to Local Foundation have been successful in attracting funding of £265,000 from the Landfill Communities Fund for an exciting project on the Wandle River in the London Borough of Sutton. The funding for the works has been provided by the landfill operative company Viridor.
