Issue 93 Summer 2016 MAGPIE

The newsletter of the Friends of Working to protect the Common and its wildlife

Editor: Darren Stillwell Website: www.friendsofmitchamcommon.com Secretary: Melanie Nunzet Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchamCommonF Telephone: 07944 833 605 Email: [email protected]

Friends of Mitcham Common news Mitcham Carnival The Friends of Mitcham Common were well represented at the Mitcham Carnival again this year. We had our stall enticing in new members, books to sell, and a range of new greetings cards available for purchase (see page 3). A big thank you to everybody who helped to run the stall during the day. The weather was variable! At points sunny, at points cloudy, and at points a torrential downpour, this no doubt kept some people away. Friends Melanie and Clare running the stall

But it was still a great day and we got to meet us in our goal of protecting the Common and the new mayor and managed to persuade a encouraging its use. few more people to join our society and help

Please email [email protected] if you’d like to subscribe to the Magpie newsletter and support the Friends in their valuable work protecting and promoting the Common. A year’s subscription costs £2.50 and five years just £10. You will receive a free copy of the publication: Mitcham Common: A Short History (by Janet Morris) and several newsletters every year. At the moment we do not have access to free printing. If you are able to switch from receiving a paper copy to an electronic version via email, that would help us enormously.

Please send payment to: Membership Secretary, Melanie Nunzet, 24 Walsingham Road, Mitcham CR4 4LN. Cheques should be made payable to Friends of Mitcham Common. BACS: Barclays, 20-57-76 33109585 Please put your name as the reference. Page 1 Magpie issue 93 Summer 2016 Friends of Mitcham Common Big Lunch! The Friends’ Big Lunch took place on the day after the carnival, with a BIG thank you to Paulette from the Meadows estate who did much of the organising. She managed to persuade a good crowd of around 20 people to come along despite the weather. Like the day before, the rain did not deter the Friends. We had arranged for the Ecology Centre to be open in case of rain, and the cover was was much needed. There was a huge amount of food on offer to share, ranging from chicken to sausage rolls to frittatas to sandwiches, to biscuits with mascarpone on top. And not much of it was left at the end of the afternoon for the staff of the Ecology Centre to tuck into on Monday! Following the success last year of the Big Lunch swingball competition and Mitcham Common’s first unofficial Test Match, (see Magpie 89 here) a competitive rounders game was organised. It was too wet and the grass too long to make the game a possibility on Mitcham Common itself, but several players made a journey to a new venue in Pollard’s Hill to play their game. This is the second successful Big Lunch event the Friends have organised and we hope to have many more in the future. It’s always great to meet so many new people and share food and stories about the Common.

Pictures, from the top: 1. The Big Lunch crowd in the Ecology Centre 2. Playing some games, eating some food, doing a quiz 3. Rounders at the Big Lunch, Norman Chapman bowling 4. More rounders - some people are so caught up in the game they can barely watch (second from right)

Page 2 Magpie issue 93 Summer 2016 Unique Mitcham Common greetings cards for sale Would you like to send a unique Common email or call 07944 833 605 with the greeting card for special occasions that details of the cards that you would like to buy. show a view of Mitcham Common? You Prices are £1.50 per card, or £5.00 for 4. If you can get them now! purchase 4, you can choose any combination of The Friends have worked with photographer designs shown below. We can then arrange Martin Sharpe to develop and print a set of 6 how we will collect payment and deliver the 5” by 7” blank greetings cards with views of card(s) to you. Mitcham Common. We think they make a Different size prints are also available on terrific present. request. If you would like to purchase the cards, please drop a note to the Friends of Mitcham

Page 3 Magpie issue 93 Summer 2016 Mitcham Common radio mast - an update The Friends recently lent their support appearance and scale as it was considered that to complaints about the installation of a the scale of the development would be visually radio mast on the Common near intrusive and detrimental to the open character Commonside East. of the neighbouring land contrary to relevant planning policies. The original planning application for the mast was refused on 2 February 2015 because it Residents are understandably unhappy that the would be "visually intrusive and detrimental to communications apparatus has been installed the open character of the neighbouring land". despite the application being refused. So there was outrage that despite this refusal As part of the investigation, officers have building work on the site had started. measured the erected pole with a “Professional Friends’ planning advisor Tom Killick made a Laser Rangefinder” measuring device and found complaint about the installation of the mast, and the height to be 14.5m high. this was followed up by complaints by the Given these findings the development would fall Friends, and others such as Councillor Martin within permitted development allowance under Whelton, Rick Livesey and Jasper Mann. the current revised regulations which was However, on investigation by Councillor placed before Parliament on 24/3/15 and came Whelton with Merton Council, it transpires into effect on 15/4/15. This would be after the that since permission was refused by Merton, refusal of the application earlier in February Parliament has subsequently changed the 2015. legislation which allows it to be a permitted Part 16 of the Town and Country Planning development. (General Permitted Development) (England) Whilst technically there has been a breach in a Order 2015 deals with telecommunication failure to notify the authority, it would be highly equipment and class ‘A’ grants permitted unlikely that any enforcement action would development rights for the installation, succeed as similar actions have been found to alteration or replacement for any electronic be unreasonable. communications which is no more than 15 m high with associated apparatus. Everybody has found this matter deeply frustrating and we are all disappointed that this From our investigation, it has been confirmed has happened which flies in the face of local that a 14.5 m pole has been erected and the 6 views and is an eyesore to the local landscape. antennas have been included in the slightly enlarged top part of the pole in order to The Council response to Councillor Whelton reduce its potential bulkiness. has been reproduced in full here: The only requirement under class ‘A.3’ of the “As a brief background, the Council determined Order is for the operator to notify the local on 2/2/15 that prior approval would be authority through the prior approval procedure required in respect of the installation of a 15 before installing the equipment. While accepting metre high telecommunications monopole with that there has been a failure to satisfy this 6 antennas and three street equipment cabinets requirement and therefore technically a breach in connection with the provision of a new 4G of planning, it would be difficult to take service and improved 3G service as part of the enforcement action based on this failure, as 02 and Vodafone mobile networks at land inspectors have found similar actions elsewhere adjacent to 323 Commonside East. The to be unreasonable.” required prior approval (ref 14/P4566) was refused permission due to the siting,

Page 4 Magpie issue 93 Summer 2016 Clean ups on the Common The Friends would like to thank a number of people who have done litter picks over recent months, including those for the Clean for the Queen initiative.

Those who led these clean ups included Liz Sherwood, Gale Keller and John Beaumont. Above left: Gale Keller’s haul. Above right: Friends of Mitcham Common Liz Sherwood and Lesley Sorrell cleaning the Common

Planting on the Meadows by Paulette Ragan When the Meadows housing estate was completed in 2012, the garden beds were filled with a small variety of flora and foliage. Some had survived and other patches of the beds had perished by 2014 as a result of poor planting choice and potentially poor soil. The estate won some funding from the Merton Megarecycle in 2014. The funding was to be used to improve the environment, and so the estate residents committee decided that the best use of the winnings was to repopulate empty patches in the garden beds. Following a interest group event in September 2015 during our first community party, the community came together in November 2015 and took part in 'The Big Plant Out'. The majority of volunteers were living on the estate, but we also had some help from some very kind individuals from Commonside East. A variety of outdoor bedding plants were purchased from a wholesaler, following kind Evii’s thank you sign on the Meadows Estate. advice and design work in partnership with a lent us the garden tools, large and small, and professional horticulturalist. necessary to complete the job. On the day of the planting event, the rain fall Around 30 residents came out on the day, in was horizontal, the wind was blowing and a dreadful weather, turned over the soil, and lorry turned up with over a ton of various planted over 200 flowers and shrubs. bedding plants, ready to be set into the soil. Some foliage used was chosen to have an We were assisted in our challenge by Michele impact the following spring such as Choisya, Kollatek from Sustainable Merton, who also Page 5 Magpie issue 93 Summer 2016 Euphorbia and Clematis to trail onto the fence Since the original plant out, residents have and a new tree planted at the front of the taken part in further planting of spring bulbs- estate. tulip, hyacinth and daffodils. More recently we have sown a wildflower bed and a strawberry Our most recent purchase was a hosepipe, for patch. dry days and we have a watering rota. To date we haven't needed to use it that extensively, Sustainable Merton gifted us some cheerful but the summer is not over yet! white, pink and cerise Cosmos as well and some wonderfully bright daisies. A wide-reaching age range took part in the day, creating a rich skill mix amongst the group. Some other residents have taken the initiative One resident borrowed a hot water urn from to plant out in beds further back on the estate, her workplace and others brought homemade and are creating their own versions of cake and biscuits along for motivating paradise. refreshment and a chance to chat. The community continues to grow from We had a wonderful community day, we made strength to strength, gardening has been a friends and met our neighbours. We formed really valuable and valid method of bringing the beginnings of a strong gardening our community together. community on the estate, we were enabled to form friendly relationships with one another We have discussed plans for next year, and with a focus on improving our communal look forward to seeding and growing our own space. shrubs, and possibly some edible plants here and there. My daughter Evii made a sign to ask that the planting on the community was respected, We have also been entered into the Merton in which has worked well to date. Bloom competition, so watch this space!!

Other Common news

The Mitcham Common Conservators meeting The next Mitcham Common meeting-15-june-2016/ The latest set of Conservators meeting will be held on minutes available (for the September 2015 Wednesday 15 June 2016 at the Mill meeting) are available at http:// House Ecology Centre https://goo.gl/ mitchamcommon.org/wp-content/uploads/ maps/lXXef. MCC-Minutes-23.09.15.pdf

The first part of the meeting is open to the The Friends have a standing agenda item to public and we would encourage as many feedback any issues and outline their plans for Friends as possible to attend to understand the coming months. To see the issues that how the Conservators work, and the basis Friends raise at these meetings you can visit upon which they make their decisions. You can the news section of our website at https:// view the papers for the meeting on the friendsofmitchamcommon.com/ Conservators’ website at http:// newsandevemts/ mitchamcommon.org/papers-for-conservators-

Page 6 Magpie issue 93 Summer 2016 Curiosities on the Common Thanks to our Twitter and Facebook a Helix Pomatia (or Roman Snail). I’m happy to followers, a few interesting curiosities be corrected if this is not the case, though! on the Common have surfaced over the The other two pictures are even more last few months. Some of these are curious! One is of a small garden gnome-like shown here. statue just into the woods off Commonside Firstly from Stuart Smith on Facebook, some East, and nearby an upright piano turned up a interesting wildlife. The first picture is of a week later! While not in tune, it still worked. female slow worm. The second of a very large We always appreciate our followers and snail snapped on Watneys Road. While the Friends bringing these interesting Common editor is not a mollusc expert, I believe this is things to our attention, so don’t forget you can follow us on Twitter at @mitchamcommonf.

Have your say about the Magpie! We always want to hear your thoughts about our newsletter. If you think there are extra things we could cover, or if you have stories or photos about the Common you’d like to see us include, then do let us know by emailing [email protected].

Page 7 Magpie issue 93 Summer 2016 Melanie’s walks and events summer 2016

Date Meeting Walk description place/time

Thurs 21 Carshalton Carshalton Evening Walk – A gentle stroll around Carshalton, with a visit to Jul Station 7 pm Wilderness Island, Grove Park and Carshalton Park. 3-4 miles. Sun 31 Jul Carshalton Carshalton Lavender 2016 Harvest Visit to Wilderness Island and Stanley Road Station 11.15 Allotments for barbecue lunch/refreshments and other attractions. Bring your am own scissors. 4-5 miles.

Sun 21 Aug Carshalton Wandle Walk – To include Wilderness Island, Grove Park, Park and Station 11 am Carew Manor Wetland. 3-4 miles.

Wandle Fortnight – Four walks through four boroughs along the Wandle Trail. All walks will have a half hour refreshment stop during or at the end.

Sat 17 Sept Earlsfield Wandsworth – walk from Earlsfield to Colliers Wood. 2 miles (led by Joan) Station 9.30 am

Colliers Merton – walk from Colliers Wood to Mitcham Junction, to include the Wood Station Watermeads and Bennett’s Hole. 5 miles (led by me) 11 am

Mitcham Sutton – walk from Mitcham Junction to Carshalton, via Beddington Park. 3-4 Junction miles (led by Frank) Station 1.30 pm

Carshalton – walk from Carshalton to Wandle Park. Finish Wandle Park tram stop. Station 3.30 3-4 miles (led by Steve) pm

Sat 8 Oct Mitcham Mitcham Common – Visit the ponds and hills of Mitcham Common. Finish at Junction 2 pm Mitcham Golf Club for refreshments. 3-4 miles.

For all walks starting at Mitcham Junction meet at bus stop on the bridge.

Health Walks

Sutton Healthy Walks - Come and join us for a free and friendly hour’s walk around Beddington Park or Ponds every Friday morning at 10 am. Meet by St Mary’s Church, Church Road, Wallington SM6 7NJ (Buses: 407 from Sutton, 463 from Mitcham). Refreshments available at church after walk. Voluntary contribution to church funds. Tour of church possible. Half hour option available.

Merton Health Walk – Around Mitcham Common every Thursday. Meet at 11 am . Refreshments afterwards at Mitcham Golf Club. For other health walks in Merton please visit www.merton.gov.uk/walk4life.

Wandle Valley Forum Would you like to have your say in what will happen in the future Wandle Valley Regional Park? If so, please consider being a member and signing up to quarterly newsletters and other updates. Please email [email protected] for details.

Please email me on [email protected] or call 07944 833605 for further info. Please note the second letter is an ‘l’ not ‘i’! Thank you and happy walking!

Page 8 Magpie issue 93 Summer 2016