Smoke on the Thames Water!

Thames Water's first contribution to local community infrastructure has ignited passions locally. The smoker's den, constructed by Murphy's on Crossfields Green, seems a very unpromising start to the £4bn super sewer project, being built soon on our doorstep.  The plywood shed at the corner of Coffey Street and Crossfields Street (pictured above) seems designed to shelter the teachers of St Joseph's from the elements as they take their daily drag.  We can only hope that the tunnel itself is constructed a little better, though we know that it's of equally limited value!  For full story see here.

Wonky Prong blog

Tim has now set up a blog for news about Crossfields food growing project. If you want to get involved, take a look at thewonkyprong.blogspot.co.uk – we've added it the Local Blogs list (left hand column).

The project has developed out of the Crossfields Green Spaces gardening group started by John, who was spurred into action when his allotment was threatened by a plan to run a cycle path through it. His garden was subsequently spared, and John began working with other allotment gardeners on the estate to raise funds to make more of our green spaces. He has since been seriously ill in hospital and fellow gardeners have been looking after his garden whilst Tim has taken over the development of the green spaces. We wish John a full return to health, hopefully in time this year to see – and taste – the fruits of the work being done in his absence. Get well soon, John!

In the meantime, if you want to help Tim grow some food, or are interested in gardening on the estate, contact him at squaregardener@gmail.com.

The Wonky Prong

The WONKY PRONG, otherwise known as the Crossfield Estate Food Project, made a great leap forward yesterday despite the rain, as a small army of enthusiastic children helped to shovel several tonnes of soil into the raised beds. Runner beans, mangetout peas and tomatoes were also planted along the fence around the community garden. Next step is to mix in some compost and then start planting! If anyone would like to get involved and help grow and eat food contact Tim at squaregardener@gmail.com

Crossfields Green Spaces update

Last Saturday, members of Greenwich Co-operative Development Agency (GCDA) helped some green-fingered Crossfields residents to build raised beds in the cleared area next to the Sue Godfrey garden. Eventually this little patch will be sheltered from the main road by a hedge and residents will be able to grow and tend plants – without too much bending! 

If you want to get involved in gardening and growing food on the estate, please contact TRA Chair Tim Wilson.

Window boxes!

Crossfields Green Spaces Fun Days – pick up your window box kit!

Friday 29th & Saturday 30th April 
Friday 13th & Saturday 14th May, 1-4pm

at Creekside Centre, 14 Creekside

•    Collect your Window Box Kit:
FREE Compost, herbs, flowers, seeds and tools for every window box on Crossfields

•    Learn how to Grow in even the smallest space
Workshops on getting your window boxes full of food and flowers. And Special advice for Kids!

•    Get Involved!
Find out about exciting opportunities for Community Gardening on the Estate. Food Growing, Guerilla Gardening, Mini Allotments and more…

•    Plus:
Tea and Cakes. Jams and Preserves. A Very Special Raffle and...

•    WORMS!
Fun for All, Young and old… help out naming our friendly worms.

These days are primarily for residents of Crossfields to come and pick up their Window Box Growing Kits – an initiative developed by Crossfields Green Spaces group as a result of a successful bid to Lewisham Homes' Community Improvement Competitive Fund.

Anyone interested in helping out on these days, please contact John on 07981 020 862 or email cgs@live.com.
crossfieldsgreenspaces.wordpress.com

Creekside Urban Park meeting Wednesday 9th Feb 7pm

From Lewisham Homes Community Officer, Will Sharpe:

I'm writing to invite you to a meeting to discuss the next steps for the Creekside Urban Park. As you may be aware there was a significant drop in the funding and as a result, the works have been altered to take account of the changes. We would now like the views of the Crossfields Green Spaces group and I'd like to invite you to a meeting to discuss this. Please see the details below:

Date:   9 February 2011
Time:   7pm to 8pm
Venue:  The Pink Palace, Frankham Street, London, SE8

Apologies for the short notice of this meeting. As you can appreciate we need to move quickly in order to be able to complete the works before the end of March 2011.