Award winning south London music artist Loyle Carner, in partnership with Timberland’s Nature Needs Heroes campaign, has brought the Croydon community together once again. The final phase of the urban greening project at the new community square, opposite the train station in Thornton Heath has been completed and handed back to Croydon’s residents.
Re-greening a disused area not far from where he grew up, Loyle has collaborated with Timberland to lead the regeneration alongside London National Park City in a movement to make the capital greener, healthier and wilder. Creating a greener city-scape for London, the new community square will act as a space for locals to access calm and peace and a place to be proud of, while also raising awareness about environmental issues.
The local community took a leading role in bringing it together, adding their own finishing touches to the space to make it alive and welcoming. Members of the community were given a time slot, to comply with social distancing guidelines, and invited down to plant something beautiful, making their own contribution to the future of their community. Allowing the people of Thornton Heath to have an active role in this project was pivotal to creating a space they will actually use, a place which is inspiring and encourages creativity.
“Feels good to be home. I was lucky to grow up around green space, but in my area that’s not how it is for everyone. So I took a small but vital step in the right direction to bring more green space to the Croydon community. I’m still moved that Timberland would support such a grassroot initiative, and help us link up with London National Park City” says Loyle Carner.
The project kicked off last October when Loyle Carner teamed up with Timberland and LNPC to promote positive change for local communities and the environment on his home turf of Croydon, a notorious concrete jungle. The first phase of the urban greening development at Thornton Heath was also marked with an open community event involving locals to provide feedback and input into the project. Croydon Council were instrumental in the project, helping to identify the Ambassador House forecourt as a space to urban green and actively engaging with the community for their valuable input.
With the help of Timberland, LNPC, and support from Croydon Council, Loyle brings to life the area of Thornton Heath as part of Timberland’s biggest campaign to date – Nature Needs Heroes. From pledging to plant 50M trees by 2025 to intending to create a net positive impact on the environment by 2030, Timberland believes a greener future is a better future.
