Members of the community will have the opportunity to see for themselves how the 120-hectare Beddington Farmlands is being transformed from an active landfill site into one of London’s most significant wildlife conservation areas.
The two open days will be hosted by the Viridor landfill team at the south London site and will include exploring the restored lakes and meadowlands which are creating a haven for wildlife and enjoy panoramic views of the south London skyline.
- 15th September 2017 – 10.00-12.00
- 22nd September 2017 – 14.00-16.00
The open days have been scheduled to fall within the ‘Wandle Fortnight 2017’, the annual celebration of the River Wandle. The 11-mile river Wandle flows through the London Boroughs of Croydon, Merton, and Sutton joining the Thames in Wandsworth. The River flows along the boundary of the Beddington Farmlands landfill site and its lakes form part of the flood alleviation scheme for the surrounding neighbourhood.
This year’s programme will include a range of activities to enable the local community to explore and appreciate the history of the River Wandle along with giving organisations a platform for displaying the valuable work they are doing along the river.
Tony Burton, Chairman of Wandle Valley Forum, commented on the open days: “The Wandle Valley Forum provides support and an independent voice for more than 100 community groups and voluntary organisations who share a passion for the Wandle Valley.
“We are proud of the landscape around us and these open days are a wonderful opportunity for the local community to see the changes underway at Beddington Farmlands intended to benefit wildlife and increase public access.”
Edd Sarasketa, Landfill Manager for Viridor, said of the events: “The Beddington Farmlands is a site of great historic importance, serving the communities of south London for hundreds of years.
“The site has supported sewerage treatment, sand and gravel extraction and now waste management.
“We encourage people to attend the open days to find out more about the Farmlands and what we have planned for the future with the vast majority of this huge site will be restored into a network of wildlife habitats.”
The open days are free of charge, but guided tours will have limited spaces with bookings made on a first come first served basis in advance. Anyone interested in booking onto a guided tour should contact Andrew Turner, on 0207 680 6548 or email[email protected]
