Surrey Quays welcomes new green project to Southwark

Surrey Quays is growing its partnership with local educational charity, Global Generation, bringing a new environmentally responsible project to the local community. 

The latest initiative involves two converted skip planters which are located along the walkway in the section of the centre’s car park closest to Canada Water station.

Working with Surrey Quays, the new skip planters provide space for the local community to grow herbs, vegetables and flowers. They will also be planted with woodland plants and fruit trees from the local area, helping to bring environmentally responsible spaces to Southwark.

The project has involved more than ten young people from Southwark and the surrounding area, including students from English for Speakers of Other Language (ESOL) groups at Bosco Centre. Those involved were invited to visit Surrey Quays to collaborate on the project and help rebuild and plant the skips for use.

Global generation

Founded in 2004, Global Generation works together with local children and young people, businesses, residents and families to create healthy, integrated and environmentally responsible communities.

Much like the Paper Garden project at Printworks, a community seedbed project which is also part funded by Surrey Quay’s owners British Land, the skips will be maintained through regular workshops. 

The sessions will teach new skills to young people including carpentry and language development, while also providing a friendly setting for the children to hang out with peers. 

 “Global Generation is a wonderful organisation and one that we’ve worked closely with for the past two years now. We’re thrilled to be extending that partnership through this new project, helping to educate and nurture young people in the local community while also creating more green spaces at the centre.”

Ian Moore, Centre Manager at Surrey Quays

“The skips have travelled from the Skip Garden in King’s Cross to join our Paper Garden at Surrey Quays. Both projects have and will continue to help young people from the local community come together and learn vital skills. We hope to keep growing our footprint in Southwark with even more new projects over time.”

Emma Trueman, Paper Garden Manager at Global Generation