We were proud to kick off the Love Parks events season again with Enable. Like last year we focussed on raising litter and recycling awareness and were pleased to hear Cllr Sutters announce the imminent start of a recycling pilot scheme on the Common. More than half the items discarded on the Common are recyclable and, apart from the recycling we collect on our regular litter picks, are incinerated. We look forward to the day when everything that can be is recycled.
We were joined by volunteers from Connected Planet Foundation (formerly Plogolution) who helped us sort and count the litter: glass bottles - 374; plastic bottles - 361; cans - 674; 3 bags of cardboard.
Our Saturday bowls sessions (3-5) are proving so popular we’ve decided to add a weekday session on Tuesdays (5-7). The Saturday sessions include a tea break and the Tuesday sessions may well end up in the pub!! Non members can ‘pay & play’ for half price - £3.50/hour. It’s encouraging to see so many youngsters now playing.
The MAC held its Annual Public Meeting to report on the management of the Common over the last year. Sessions included one on the byelaws - why they’re needed and what they’re trying to achieve. Minutes available here.
Our small group bird walks continue. And Sharon O’Neil, picture editor for our book, reprised her popular heritage talk on the Fitzhugh Estate.
Last but not least, the Battersea Society unveiled a blue plaque at Clapham Junction station in honour of John C Buckmaster - the man who saved Wandsworth Common in 1871. He used to live in a house on the edge of the Common which is now under one of the platforms!! More on this next month.