Contractors help revive community spaces
Galldris workers volunteer their time to transform the space at Dockland Settlements
As we build the new development at Canada Water, we’re focused on making a positive contribution to local life, putting together a place that’s sustainable now and in the future.
With spring in the air, community spaces around the local area have been getting a spruce-up with the help of our contractor Galldris. The team have been working with SE16-based community interest company Bizzie Bodies and charity Dockland Settlements to transform a neglected space off Salter Road, at the Dockland Settlements, into a beautiful community garden.
Galldris site manager Eligijus and his team responded to Bizzie Bodies’ brief for the space with an ambitious redesign plan that emphasised safety while enhancing the aesthetics of the area. They then got their hands dirty as they worked hard to put this plan into action. The reimagined garden encompasses an events space, vegetable patch, and areas dedicated to learning, storytelling, meditation and wildlife.
Bizzie Bodies founder Emilie Mendy said: “I am continually impressed by Eligijus, where his vision and dedication became evident in such a short time. The space is now not only safer but also uniquely beautiful, adding immeasurable value to the community garden. As a result, the space is reopened and available for the children to enjoy safely.
“Our goal was to create a vibrant and inclusive physics and sensory garden that serves as a haven for vulnerable individuals of all ages and abilities, including young people, those with special needs and disabilities and students seeking educational opportunities. Since its inception, the garden project has thrived on the unwavering support of organisations such as British Land and Galldris, local charities, youth groups, and the council.
“With three distinct phases to complete within the next six months, we are calling upon the community to join hands in this collective endeavour. We envision collaborating with local schools to cultivate a diverse array of plants, launching a fundraising campaign to realise our garden's full potential, mobilising teams of volunteers with various abilities, and nurturing young gardeners to participate in the transformational process. Together, we can cultivate not just a garden, but a nurturing environment where everyone can flourish and thrive.”
The work at Dockland Settlements made use of woodchip and tree trunks sourced from works elsewhere in the development. Removing trees from certain areas is necessary in order for us to deliver the Canada Water development, which will ultimately see over 1,200 trees planted in the local area.
To make sure the wood didn’t go to waste, we reached out to a number of local groups to offer large pieces or woodchip for use in community projects, giving those trees a second life here in Canada Water.
Canada Water Estate allotments has recently received a delivery of around 20 4ft mature tree logs, which they’ll be using to make bug hotels and rustic outdoor furniture. Local creatives Yes Make are refashioning some of this wood into a fire escape and hobs for the mud kitchen at community-focused green space the Paper Garden, run by our community partners Global Generation. Galldris have also delivered logs and woodchip delivered to the Hithe Community Garden, to use in the space they’re developing as a place to run their growing events programme, and to Stave Hill Ecological Park. The Ecological Park is also providing a new home for plants relocated from the garden at our Dock Offices project hub.
Galldris delivered logs and wood chippings to Hithe Community Garden
