PRESERVING AND EXTENDING URBAN GREEN SPACES

John has wide knowledge and experience of this subject. He is a Trustee of the Eleanor Shorter Fund, which supports the maintenance and improvement of Haling Grove. He is a member of the Board of Conservators of Mitcham Common, which operates under the terms of its own Act of Parliament, and a member of a multi-borough joint committee charged with the responsibility for developing a South West London Regional Park.

John took us back to his childhood in Lancashire where there were lots of open green space in which he was able to roam freely, without anyone feeling concerned about this. (Unlike today when, John said, he wouldn’t like his grandchildren to roam as freely as he did.)

Over the years John and his family moved to various parts of England and he was always able to get out and about into open green spaces. When he finally moved to Croydon, again, there were plenty of public open spaces to enjoy but, sadly, many of these no longer exist.

Prior to giving his talk, John had looked at maps of the various places he had lived over the years, only to find that many of the wonderful places he enjoyed exploring are no longer there.

The pressure for more housing is increasing and Brick by Brick, Croydon’s development company, has been given access to all sorts of green spaces. Spaces that are important for the environment, for wildlife habitats, and for helping us to breath. It is essential to preserve these for future generations.

What power or influence do we have to prevent the loss of these important spaces? If we object to building schemes, we should lobby our elected councillors.

“Unless we say no more, all green spaces will be built on.” John Cheetham.

This topic is of interest to all our members, but especially to those living in Croydon, and generated a lot of questions. A further discussion will be held in the Autumn.     

THIS TALK COVERED SDGs 3, 4, 11 and 14.