The idea
Gipsy Hill Station adjoining land has deteriorated considerably, making the station less enjoyable to use and engendering a sense of elevated risk when in the immediate environs. Several parts of the land behind Platform 1 are fenced off and currently in a very poor state, making them subject to littering and fly tipping, and are generally unkempt along the side roads making them feel unpleasant. We need your help to improve this neglected area.
The idea is to undertake significant environmental improvements to the area and to make it a more enjoyable, safer and positive place for all those who live and work around it. This would be achieved by upgrading the green space around the station, enhancing the diversity of vegetation and wildlife, and fostering strong community involvement.
We plan to transform the environmentally impoverished land into a wildlife habitat, an educational and community space, and a beautiful green garden.
What we'll deliver
- Cleaning and litter picking to make the area more presentable
- Planting of wildflowers and native plants
- Research any issues of industrial contamination, and removing noxious invasive species such as japanese knotweed
- Installing planters and hanging baskets on the platform and station foyer (hooks already exist along the platforms)
- Constructing and installing bird and bat boxes
- Install insect hotels, particularly to preserve the endangered stag beetle which is resident in the area
Why it's a great idea
This provides environmental improvements to beautify the area, making it a pleasant station to use. It provides a usable green space as a focus for the community, transforming a currently inhospitable and menacing side road into an attractive and well-managed garden. By introducing planting into currently neglected scrubland, we will focus on indigenous and wildlife-promoting species.
We will deter anti-social behaviours such as littering, fly tipping and crime enhancing the safety of the Sainsbury Road side of the station, where pedestrians are often forced to interact directly with traffic.
We will address social divisions and low inclusivity by offering volunteering opportunities to residents, schools and other community groups.
We will offer therapeutic benefits in terms of wellbeing generally, but specifically to fitness and mental health to all those involved in the planning and the realisation of the project.
Steps to get it done
- Cleaning and litter picking to make the area presentable and to provide the means to keep it tidy
- Install water source
- Erect the shed to store the equipment
- Planting of wildflowers and native plants to enhance the area
- Planters set up for growing food
The Friends of Gipsy Hill are also looking to:
Establish an orchard on another disused part of the station grounds
Insect hotels are particularly needed to preserve the endangered stag beetle which is resident in the area.
Increased habitat and food plants for bees and other pollinators, including the locally common jersey tiger moth (https://ukmoths.org.uk/species/euplagia-quadripunctaria/)
Improvement of the area currently frequented by the Gipsy Hill Station Cat (https://www.croydonadvertiser.co.uk/news/croydon-news/story-behind-loveable-cat-who-550932), a local celebrity with a large social media following
(https://twitter.com/thegipsyhillcat?lang=en),
Year two :
Design a children's play area for a second phase of the project
Works on the lower tract of land including construction of a project space depends on funding.
Establish a drought resistant avenue of mid-height hedgerow along Sainsbury Road.
