Waltham Forest's adopt a flower bed scheme gives community groups and residents the opportunity to improve the quality of their local environment by adopting flower beds in public areas.
Adopting a flower bed is a great way to do your bit for the community and have fun at the same time. Replanting and maintaining Waltham Forest's flower beds will also help to tackle climate change.
Foresters Drive, Walthamstow
Local residents group, The Foresters Drive Residents Association (FDRA), adopted a roundabout in July 2009 in a bid to improve the street, making it more attractive and helping to reduce anti social behaviour in the area. Titan Civil Engineering adopted another roundabout in the area.
The Council supplied the group with plants, and the two roundabouts have since been transformed into flowerbeds of colour, with a lot of hard work from residents.
Graham Hodgkiss, FDRA Chairman, said: "We were told by our Local Safer Neighbourhood Team that if an area looks run down it will attract crime and anti social behaviour. A well kept street with neighbours that know, care and look out for each other reduces crime and anti social behaviour.
Working on the flowerbed certainly brought our community together, we held a meeting, planned the work we wanted to do and organised the neighbours in to two groups; the planners and the grafters.
In Foresters Drive we are now positive that it not only helps to reduce crime it is nice to have a good community spirit. We believe it pays to care for your community."
Why adopt?
Well maintained flower beds that are attractively planted and kept free of litter help to make the borough more pleasant for everyone.
What's involved?
The adopt flower bed scheme is open to anyone in Waltham Forest who would like to join, and is particularly aimed at community organisations and groups of residents.
You can nominate a particular flower bed that you would like to adopt, or we can work with you to find one that is suitable for you.
We ask that you agree to adopt a flower bed for at least one year. By adopting a flower bed you will take on the responsibility for planting and maintaining the bed, which is likely to involve weeding and litter picking.
The Council will provide a starter pack of plants and tools to enable you to make the best of your flower bed. We can also provide information and advice about your plants and how to care for them.
The Council will also put up a plaque at each adopted flower bed displaying the name and details of the organisation or group that has adopted it.
How to adopt your flower bed
To register your interest in adopting a flower bed in Waltham Forest you can fill in the online form or contact Waltham Forest Direct on 020 8496 3000 or via email wfdirect@walthamforest.gov.uk
What happens next
You will be contacted by Green Spaces to discuss the location.
