ENERGY GARDEN
Energy Gardens are coming to a London Overground Station near you. Over the next 2 years the Energy Garden team will be supporting communities across London to transform as many as 50 London Overground platforms and stations...
ENERGYGARDEN.ORG.UK
Great news - I voted and pleased to see Forest Hill is one of the first stations to become part of the scheme. Hopefully they can focus on the car park area at the front of the station to try and make this area more pleasant - the platforms themselves are already in good condition I think (though any additional upgrades are always welcome).
There is only really one problem with the car park area, and that is that it is a car park area. My vision is for the pedestrianization of the area between the station entrance and the side of WHSmith.
I'm still trying to understand what an Energy Garden will bring to the station, it seems to be about growing edible plants, which is great, but the front of the station isn't really the best place. There is a small area on platform 1 where Forest Hill Society have been growing some edibles including hops, but mainly flowering plants.
The roof of the station would be ideal for installation of solar panels.
But I'll be interested to hear about other ideas that come out of this initiative.
Is it definite that Forest Hill is getting an Energy Garden or is next week's meeting just a preliminary meeting? I couldn't find anything on the website that suggests FH has been chosen.
I don't see that FH station is a particularly good location. They could remove the existing plants on the plot at the back wall of WH Smith and turn it into an allotment (good luck keeping the bindweed at bay) but what about water? Unless they introduce water harvesting measures then all the water is piped in - hardly very 'green'. And growing vegetables needs a lot of water.
As Michael has said, solar panels on the roof would be good.
As for the fenced area, I think they use it for occasional storage. Not sure if it's Network Rail or the station who use it.
Yes it's a definite, the London Overgrounds that get the most nominations are what are chosen by the initiative. Many voted on twitter for Forest Hill by using #GreenMyOverground you can have a look at this # even if you are not registered with twitter I think. Maybe someone can let us know if I'm right in thinking this.
See copy and paste below of the first notification I got about this.
Energy Garden @EnergyGardenLDN Jul 28
@paulinewright2 Energy Garden is arriving at Forest Hill station, inspire us with your ideas and get involved! Station meet - Wed 5/08 18:30
It might be worth adding to this thread that on Saturday 19th September we will be unveiling the Totally Locally Forest Hill/FHTA map and shop directory. This will replace the existing raised stand at the station forecourt and will also be used to advertise local events etc.
The new stand has been made possible by signage funding from SEE3, local assembly funding and active members of Forest Hill Traders Association.
Cyrus from The Framing Salon has designed the stand and it is being made locally using treated oak and bronze castings with a fibreglass sculpture on top - all will be revealed soon!
Simon from The Archie Parker is in the process of building a new FHTA website to coincide with this which is now live but still a work in progress.
A few of us are working on the actual event which will include live music and another Fiver Fest on the day.
There is only really one problem with the car park area, and that is that it is a car park area. My vision is for the pedestrianization of the area between the station entrance and the side of WHSmith.
Michael, as someone who regularly has to drive through the car park, I can assure you that the pedestrians clearly share your vision. They run through it as though it were already pedestrianized, completely avoiding the pavement alongside the bike rack and the front of the station. Still, I suppose the 2.1 seconds they save in trying to catch their train is worth the inconvenience of running into moving cars.
Some great suggestions were mentioned at this meeting including solar lighting and a spruce up of the railway path, but the knotweed seems to be a big problem which no-one seems to be willing to take responsibility for. No-one was quite sure who was responsible for this so if anyone knows for sure please let me know and I will pass it on.
I made some suggestions overall which were:
- Creating some sort of installation at the back entrance (Perry Vale) where the ticket machine is to hopefully stop people peeing and throwing rubbish in this area and also to brighten it up.
- Put solar lighting in place underneath the new shop signage which will be going in soon at the forecourt to create a better lit station and also for visitors to see visually in the evening what the area has to offer
- Perry Vale side platform - Creepers along the railings and also on the sitting area shed similar to edible bus stops I have looked at lately.
- Main entrance platform - I didn't know and many others didn't either. There's a small soil plot behind the bike lock up to the right of this platform, I suggested a "Kid's Garden" so the local kids can take charge and hopefully the local schools might get involved. I thought this would be good for the kids to get involved and a bit educational.
The real eye opener for me was the massive concrete space which just housed a shed and was just doing nothing. The Groundwork and Energy London team suggested this could be made in to an allotment with small individual plots that locals could look after, and commuters could pick up veg as they get off the train when it harvests.
The next step is these guys will go away with all our ideas and check with TFL what we can and can't do.
They will then email us, so I'll post my email when I get it.
Oh I'm the big bad wolf because I encourage the local teenagers to do something with their lives.
So sorry if you don't agree with this, but I think it is important. They are all recording music in a studio now which I think is pretty cool. AND I have peeps to have a listen to their stuff.
Just a suggestion : hope someone is going to test for contaminants at any site that is used for growing vegetables by kids or adults. The contaminants will be determined by previous use of these sites and adjacent areas. Just jotted down some contaminants that immediately come to mind: herbicides; lubricating oils from trains/brakes, asbestos, anti freeze that is sprayed on tracks in winter & there could be other serious contaminants.
Being a frequent traveler on the railways have always seen lots of small vegetable patches/allotments by rail tracks and always wondered about contamination.
They could bring in new soil for planting, but not sure if growing vegetables so close to rail tracks is wise ?. Anyone know of any studies done on contaminants adjacent to rail tracks/stations etc and levels of contaminants in fruit or vegetables grown at such sites ?.
P1971 - comments here are not a personal attack on you or the scheme. As it is still at the planning stage, it's very important that people raise issues that may not have been considered, so the money is spent in the best way possible.
I don't feel the whole fruit and vegetable thing is worth while. money would be better put towards a general tidy up and maybe a fresh paint giving the station a more friendly look.
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