Volunteers have been busy rolling up their sleeves to clean grot spots, tidy up community gardens and start a park food growing project in Thornton Heath.

Last month rugby players from Streatham- Croydon Rugby Football Club flexed their muscles as part of a community clean up outside their ground. They joined members of the Thornton Heath Community Action Team to help clear up Frant Road and Meadow View Roads as part of NatWest Rugbyforce 2020 and this was the impressive rubbish and overgrown foliage they cleared.

Meanwhile, the community garden in Thornton Heath Rec under the drive of local resident Graham Mitchell has also undergone a transformation. Pruned, swept and leaves have been mulched by volunteers who meet each Sunday.

They have also been joined by GoodGym in planting hundreds of bulbs, picked litter and prepared the wild meadow.

In Grangewood Park, local resident Ruth Miller is leading a project to transform the unloved and uncared for sunken garden by starting a food growing project.

Ruth has put in a bid to the Mayor’s Green Fund for support in progressing the plan which will include an edible orchard. The team meets most Saturday’s and sometimes on Monday’s to improve the space. The park hut mural has also received a much welcomed character Mr Fox, created by Ruth’s sister Hannah.

For more info visit Friends of Grangewood Park or Thornton Heath Rec on Facebook.