KEC is based in the heart of the community. Once an old toilet block this building is now an Environment Centre. We aspire for this space to become one that can encourage and engage with local people, including those with physical and mental disabilities to connect and learn about the local environment; showcasing sustainable development, local wildlife and urban food growing.
This project will enable us to transform and revive the centres concrete yard into a colourful and sensory environment . Demonstrating how concreted areas can be converted into places that can produce food and provide habitat for an array of urban wildlife. This will be the first phase for us to regenerate the whole centre.
This will help to create a fantastic community resource that can educate and empower local individuals. Providing a place that can stimulate grassroots environmental action and improve the wellbeing of all those who engage with the project.
What we'll deliver:
- We will transform the yard into a sensory and colourful food growing and wildlife garden
- We will work with charities and groups who work with people with disabilities ensuing all have opportunities to engage
- We will hold Workshops and opportunities for the community to learn new skills
Why it's a great idea:
This project will help to create an inviting and inspirational space open to everyone. Where the community can come to together not only to connect with each other but also to the surrounding local environment. Helping to celebrate the natural heritage which New Malden and the Kingston Borough has to offer.
It will provide a space where all people can learn new skills, from how to grow food and create wildlife friendly gardens. Empowering people to enhance their own local environment; ranging from a windowsills to local public spaces.
We believe that is is a fundamental right for all people to be able to engage with nature. Currently these opportunities are limited especially for people with physical and mental disabilities and those who do not have close easy access to green space. We will provide an area where all will be welcome, enabling people to understand and engage with the local environment. Bringing a plethora of benefits to personal wellbeing.
Steps to get it done:
- Enable disabled access with the creation of specially designed raised beds, enabling people in wheel chairs to plant
- holding volunteers days and workshops
- planting the yard with wildlife friendly plants and food plants
- Landscaping and installation of raised beds
The Kingston Environment Centre has strong links with community groups, mental health organisations and ethnic groups throughout the Kingston Borough. We want to become a centre that is open to everyone, so that all can benefit from our resources and reconnect with the local environment.
This will be the first phase of a centre wide regeneration project, which will see the transformation of an old toilet block into a inspirational space showcasing and facilitating excellence in environmental practices and sustainability. Encouraging people and organisations across Kingston to take an interest in the environment.
We will also work with Health Watch, to ensure we can reach as many individuals as possible, who will be able to benefit from the garden and our activities.
Please support us and be part of the transformation!