‘Parklets’ bring greenery and a place to enjoy the sunshine in Hammersmith town centre

Four new community green spaces opened this week in Hammersmith Grove, and have already proved a hit with people and wildlife.

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The new parklets in Hammersmith Grove provide greenery and cycle parking

Four new community green spaces opened this week in Hammersmith Grove, and have already proved a hit with people and wildlife.

Combining trees and flower planters with wooden seating and cycle parking, these new ‘parklets’ are designed to make the area more pleasant for residents, shoppers and businesses, while also encouraging cycling and improving air quality. They’re also part of a borough-wide plan to support and encourage biodiversity.

The Hammersmith Grove design also includes new electric vehicle charging points. Hammersmith & Fulham already has more electric vehicle charging points than any other borough and an increasingly popular electric car club – adding to the borough’s green credentials.

See all the pictures from the Hammersmith Grove parklets opening on our Flickr photo gallery

“We’re working to make H&F the greenest borough in the country,” said Cllr Stephen Cowan, Leader of H&F Council, as he cut the red ribbon to open the new parklets.

“We’re doing that with local residents and businesses, who are helping us design forward-thinking solutions to the challenges of modern urban living.

“These parklets not only offer green respite for workers and shoppers, but also provide vital food and homes for wildlife; so it’s great to see people, bees and butterflies are already using them.

“By providing better facilities for cyclists, and making it more pleasant to be out on foot in our town centres, the parklets are also helping to improve our air quality, so everyone stands to benefit. Watch this space, as we’re going to deliver more.”

Improving our environment

It’s the first step in a bigger plan for pollution-busting environmental improvements in Hammersmith town centre. Other ideas being developed include more electric vehicle charging points, better cycle facilities and more tree-planting to create a ‘low emission neighbourhood’.

Among the more radical plans are a taxi rank for electric taxis only and a ‘last mile’ courier club to reduce the amount of polluting delivery journeys by switching to pedal power, or electric vehicles, for the final leg.

The new project in Hammersmith Grove was supported with financial backing from local business Medidata, HammersmithLondon BID and the Mayor of London’s air quality fund.

"The parklets project is a great opportunity to make our office surroundings greener and to give back to the H&F community," said Christian Hebenstreit, Medidata General Manager & Senior Vice President EMEA.

"Hammersmith has been Medidata's European headquarters for many years, as it provides superb access to talent, a world-class infrastructure and the UK life sciences ecosystem. Providing the best and most sustainable working environment is something we, and our more than 200 London-based colleagues, focus on every day."

Plentiful parklets

The first parklet in Hammersmith opened in April last year, in Brackenbury Village, and has been warmly received by residents and local businesses.

“We love it. Lots of people have commented how impressed they are with the new seating area and believe that it improves the area while creating a focal point for the village,” said Sharon from Brackenbury Deli.

“It is well used, especially when the weather is good and creates a bit of a buzz.”

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Brackenbury parklet

Read more about our work to be the greenest borough and our Cycling Strategy (pdf).

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