Over the past year, you may have noticed an increase in planting around Putney. These additions have created a colorful welcome and contribute to making Putney a place where people want to spend time and enjoy themselves.
This summer, we introduced twenty-six flower wraps on lamp columns and ten large planters at the town centre’s entrance points. These will be removed for the winter, while the ten tower planters will be replanted with winter flora. Positively Putney continues to maintain the planter outside the former Marks and Spencer store, the parklets, and the extended bed by the bus stop on Putney Bridge Road. We plan to enhance the bed outside Putney Mead Medical Centre soon and add permanent seating to the parklet on Lacy Road.
The presence of more plants in our environment is beneficial; they improve the air quality we breathe. This is crucial in a congested area like Putney, where plants play a vital role in absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, as well as filtering urban pollutants and fine particulates through their leaves.
Research has shown that proximity to plants can significantly reduce anxiety and stress levels in humans. By providing planters, we bring people closer to nature and create welcoming green spaces filled with colorful plants for everyone to enjoy.
For the fourth consecutive year, Positively Putney BID entered the Putney town centre in the London in Bloom awards. Contrary to what the name might imply, the awards are not only about floral displays but also about environmental stewardship and community involvement. The judging criteria include horticulture (maintenance, seasonal changes, plant quality), environment (local identity, built environment, environmental quality), and community (year-round activity, communication and awareness, support and funding). This year, we were proud to receive a silver award.