Clapham Junction ‘Grot Spot’ blooms
By Camilla Ween, Open Spaces Committee member
The Open Spaces Committee in collaboration with The Clapham Junction Business Improvement District (BID) recently tried a new initiative—planting up a Clapham Junction 'grot spot.'
Some of the new plants.
Leftover Space
The spot chosen was a leftover space that has become a bit of an eyesore and litter trap. It's situated at the southern end of the rail underpass on Falcon Road, below Lidl's car park. Here it is on Google Street View.
The chosen site; we planted up part of the area at the front, and to the right.
Flowers for Easter
Members of Open Spaces cleared it of litter and planted it up with some colourful spring blooms ahead of the Easter weekend. The plants were donated by the BID and our idea was to start a discussion around the future of this neglected little space, and get to the bottom of who owns it—something the BID is still trying to establish. In the long term it would be nice to see it properly landscaped and permanently planted with hardy species, possibly to include a small tree and some seating. But that will require collaboration and agreement from the owners of the land, any adjacent owners and Wandsworth Council.
The fininished planting: red ranunculus, blue campanula, and some variegated ivy.
Encouraging Feedback
As we were doing the work, many passers-by told us how much they had disliked seeing the space neglected, and welcomed our new temporary planting. We are hoping to engage all in this discussion about its future, and would welcome further feedback.