Sustainable Merton
Sustainable Merton is a community led initiative which gives local residents, organisations and businesses the chance to stimulate practical action. The aim is to make our area a sustainable community at a time of peak oil and climate change.
Some of our activities are:
- Giving talks and screening films on sustainability, peak oil and climate change ; and running stalls at local events and fairs to publicise our aims.
- Working with local organisations, for example our joint partnership with the LB Merton and Groundwork London in the Low Carbon Zone project in Mitcham, funded by the Mayor of London.
- Promoting local food production with a community garden allotment at Phipps Bridge. We use this to take gardening lessons into schools and help them and local people to develop their own allotments.
- Supporting Transition Town Wimbledon, the Merton Schools Eco Forum and the National Trust with their forthcoming Living Green Centre.
We hold a monthly social meeting for exchange of ideas (Green Drinks), and produce a quarterly newsletter for supporters.
Transition Town Wimbledon
Transition Town Wimbledon aims to prepare the town for the twin challenges, and opportunities, of peak oil and climate change.
TTW is an autonomous arm of Sustainable Merton that is rapidly expanding its portfolio of activities and projects. Part of the international Transition Towns movement, it was formed after Wimbledon's Odeon cinema hosted the UK's best-attended showing of the film The Age of Stupid in 2009.
Highlights so far include:
- Hosting the first London showing of 'In Transition 1.0: The Transition Towns Film' at Bishop Gilpin School.
- 'Rethinking Wimbledon' in March 2010, TTW's first major public engagement event.
- Forming the Wimbledon Food Group, to bring more local land into food production.
- Forming the Wimbledon Energy Group, to raise awareness on peak oil and take practical action on energy consumption.
Get in touch with TTW at ttwimbledon@yahoo.co.uk. TTW also maintains a page on Project Dirt, south London's green networking and events website.
Office
Sustainable Merton opened an office in August 2010, in the Old Boiler House at Morden Hall Park. We thank the National Trust for their kind co-operation in this venture.
It is in front of the Trust's forthcoming 'Living Green Centre' in the old Stables, which is being built with money from the European Commission.
Contact Sustainable Merton
If you have any questions, suggestions or ideas you want help with, or to take them forward, or if you would like to get involved in projects as they develop, call 020 3417 0476 (office) or 07779 879091 (mobile)
SM Office, The Old Boiler House, Morden Hall Park, Morden Hall Rd, SM4 5JD
E-mail: sustainablemerton@googlemail.com
Comments on the website should go to garethsimkins@yahoo.co.uk.
Sustainable Merton is a registered charity, No.1123041.
News
Spring newsletter
18/03/2012
Available to download on the newsletter page.
Energise Merton
18/03/2012
Read more about our new energy conservation and renewable generation project.
Food waste collection
18/03/2012
Merton Council is extending this to the whole borough.
LCZ project ending
18/03/2012
Core funding for the two-year Wandle Valley Low Carbon Zone ends this month, so we are running a final event on 31 March at the South Mitcham Community Centre from 16:30 to 19:30. Thanks to all who have been involved.
Welcome, Lois!
18/03/2012
We are pleased to welcome Lois Ainger as Sustainable Merton's new volunteer coordinator. Lois will be looking after new and old volunteers and coordinating their time.
Tamworth Farm
18/03/2012
Work has started on the Tamworth Farm Allotment site to clear a plot of land for St Marks Primary school. Twelve people have been involved in clearing the plot.
Energy Awareness Day
29/02/2012
Sustainable Merton is running an Energy Awareness Day in the Low Carbon Zone on Tuesday 13 March. See the events page for more details.
Regular Events
Office Opening Hours
Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri
The Sustainable Merton office is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10:00 to 15:00.
Green Drinks
Second Wednesdays
Members of Sustainable Merton, Friends of the Earth, Transition Town Wimbledon and others gather for a drink or two every second Wednesday each month, from 8ish to late. The NEW venue is The Price of Wales pub, on Morden Road, near Big Yellow Storage.
Green Coffee
First Tuesdays, 9:30-11:00
Come and join Transition Town Wimbledon for morning coffee from December. It’s a great opportunity to discuss things with similar-minded people. The venue is Piaf on Wimbledon Hill Road, opposite Wimbledon Library. Hope to see you then.
Allotment work
Wed/Sat/Sun
Volunteers are on site at our community garden on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday mornings to late lunchtime. Find out more from garden project co-ordinator Gillian on 07956170141.
Farmers' Market
Saturdays, 09:00-13:00
Many of us go to the local farmer's market for our weekly shop. It's held at Wimbledon Park Primary School, Havana Road, off Durnsford Road, London SW19 8EJ.
Fundraising Quizzes
01/08/2010
We hold a quiz at The Guardian Centre, 67 Clarendon Road, Colliers Wood, SW19 2DX, a few times each year. A ticket buys a very tasty dinner and an enjoyable evening out.