A mural based around a community garden is about to brighten up a street corner in east Greenwich – and neighbours are being invited to its unveiling.
French artist ATMA is putting together the work on the side of Fingal’s Bakery, on the corner of Woodland Crescent and Trafalgar Road.
The artwork was created through a series of workshops led by the Christchurch School Community Garden, bringing together residents to explore climate change, biodiversity, pollution and practical local solutions.
Neighbours, including local families, are being invited to its launch from 10am to 1pm on Sunday.
ATMA told The Greenwich Wire: “We’ve focused on the plants and the biodiversity of the community garden as well as the areas. You can see a dandelion in the middle. It’s sometimes unloved, but we want to celebrate it.
“There is English ivy and a lot of species from the area. So we’ve got the seven dots: ladybird, dragon, dragonfly, moth, snail, hedgehog. So it basically celebrates biodiversity. We need to look after our own nature, so it looks after us.
“And we have a human presence because we are the ones to do this. It’s a dialogue between humans and nature, basically.”
The mural also features the Meridian Line, which runs a few metres away. “I was born on the meridian in Bordeaux – I always felt a connection with Greenwich,” he said.
A small part of the mural is being saved for the launch on Sunday. “I’m going to invite people to write down their name or the name of someone they love, and put a brick of intention,” ATMA said.
“There could also be a message if they want, but everyone can have one brick. They will write it down and then cover it with paint, so it’s sealed into the wall.”
Fiona Machen Harrison, the co-founder of Christchurch School Community Garden, said: “This garden was built by local people, for local people, and that’s exactly the spirit of this campaign. When residents design the mural, grow the food, and lead the workshops, the results mean something. They don’t just look good on a poster.”
The project is being led by Paint the Change, which has created 100 murals across 15 countries promoting social justice, environmental awareness, and youth participation, as part of a programme called A Cleaner, Greener East London, which is working across Greenwich, Bexley, Hackney and Newham. It has been funded by The National Lottery Climate Action Fund.
Another mural is due to go up at a later date in Erith, in association with The Exchange arts hub.
Maziar Bahari, the director of Paint the Change, said: “We believe the most powerful climate action starts on your own street. This campaign is about proving that: one community, one mural, one young storyteller at a time.”
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