London Road Station Partnership

Elspeth Broady and Madeleine Cary

http://londonrdstationpartnership.wordpress.com/

Engagement

Confidence

Vision

• small suburban station just outside centre of Brighton

• built 1877, residential area of similar period

• 475,000 journeys annually, local and regional commuting

• local focus: bridge is a thoroughfare to local school, successful local pubs either side

• much loved by locals, but concerns about graffiti and use of land sold for development

London Road Station Partnership• set up through residents’ association in April 2011

• to transform two plots of waste land

• now also community composting and graffiti ‘Bridgewatch’

• 10 core gardeners, up to 20 composters and many ‘friends’

Vision• An initial plan that gets people going

create two gardens, develop a historical display

• Examples for inspirationa visit to Plumpton Station Partnership‘Harvest’ demonstration edible garden in local park

• Ideas developing organically‘why don’t we use that area for composting?’

• Ambition‘let’s go for ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ registration’

Engagement• Essential!

Open, inclusive and accepting – taking what comes

• Social focus: having tea together, outings, Harvest supper

• Communication: ‘Open door’, e-mail, posters, blog

• Events with local community: street party, Mini-orchard planting, Garden Gadabout charity event

• Businesses, Council, organisations: sponsorship, support, grants

Confidence

• Support from Sussex Community Rail Partnership

• Trust, encouragement and enthusiasm from Southern Railways

• Opportunities to learn via our community association networks and links with other community gardens

• Involvement of local Councillors

• Successful applications for funding and sponsorship

• Response from our local community: people chatting, visiting, ‘owning’ the gardens

As an example …• Video of Mini-orchard planting event

• Collaboration with Brighton Permaculture Trust and Action for Rural Sussex

• Planting of 7 fruit trees - 4 local Sussex varieties- and an apple-based lunch

• Around 50 people attended, including ward Councillor, local MP and local publican

• http://londonrdstationpartnership.wordpress.com/