News

The scourge of e-bikes, dumped randomly on pavements on Lee may soon be solved. A recent meeting of the Lee Manor Society heard that Lee will at last be getting dedicated bays where e-bike users must leave their bikes or face being fined.

Cllr Laura Sessions told the meeting that three bays were being installed in Lee in phase 4 of the roll out, although she had told the Council more would be needed. This map shows where the proposed bays will be: on Manor Lane and Cambridge Drive. Cllr Sessions hoped more bays would be added in phase 5.

The system already operates in the west of Lewisham. Users cannot end their ride until they have deposited the bike in a designated bay. If they dump it randomly they will continue to be charged.

Lewisham’s FAQ sheet online includes an email address for reporting dumped bikes. It’s lewisham@li.me or you can use the the Love Clean Streets app.

Lucy-Anne Bishop explains what is Hügelkultur and how it ill help the restoration of the Big Bed in Manor House Gardens. The project is a collaboration between the Lee Manor Society and the Friends of Manor House Gardens. Members of the Lee Green WI and the Lee Scouts, with support from HH Garden Landscapes worked tirelessly to create the drought-resilient mounds which will help keep the ground well-watered.

More than 30 volunteers joined the Big Dig of the Big Bed to start preparing the ground for replanting later this year.

The Lee Manor Society and the Friends of Manor House Gardens, along with many others including the Lee Green WI and the Scouts joined the mass dig.

The Big Bed Rescue is a collaboration between the Friends of the Gardens and the Lee Manor Society. With support from the Mayor of London’s Green Roots Fund and the Lewisham Council NCIL Fund, the project is aiming to restore the bed, near the cafe on the north side of the park. It had been neglected and overgrown for many years. The plan is to make the bed a sensory and educational experience.

The Big Dig involved creating “Hugel” mounds, which will help keep the ground well-watered, “Hugelkultur” is a traditional gardening method that builds self-watering, nutrient-rich raised beds by burying logs, branches, and organic debris.

“We’re aiming for the bed to be more climate resilient and be able to make the most of rain when it does rain, but also hold on to the moisture when it starts to dry out because we’re going to end up probably with more summers like we did this year,” explained Lucy-Anne Bishop.

The Big Bed Rescue is also being supported by Holly and Hayley of HH Garden Landscapes.

If you would like to join the volunteer group who help maintain Manor House Gardens please email leemanorsociety@gmail.com

Lewisham Council is offering small grants to residents and community groups to improve their localities.

The Council asks “Do you have an idea to tackle fly-tipping, improve a neglected place or make your neighbourhood cleaner, greener or more welcoming? Love Lewisham Micro Grants can help residents, community groups and local organisations turn practical ideas into action.”

Individuals can apply for up to £200, while community groups can apply for up to £1,000.

Applications are open; they close on November 27th.   Full details can be found here.

The Council makes clear it can fund projects like:

• community clean-ups and local neighbourhood action
• planting, planters and small greening projects
• equipment that will provide wider community benefit
• community artwork or local awareness activity linked to improving an area
• practical projects addressing fly-tipping, neglect or another recurring local problem

It can’t fund:

• private benefit or payments to an individual applicant for their own time
• work that should be carried out by the Council, a landowner or another statutory service
• costs already incurred or activity that has already happened
• projects outside Lewisham
• projects without wider local or community benefit
• projects that cannot obtain required permissions
• activities that are unlawful or unsafe