Following the success of last year's Tour de Tooting, Transition Town Tooting are organising a follow-up event, 'The Tooting Twirl' on Sunday 16th July, which will create a pop up village green in a surprising location: the Bus Turning Circle at Tooting Broadway, in the heart of Tooting’s busy Town Centre.
The event will aim to raise awareness of the importance of public space for community use, and use the power of temporary installations to encourage Tooting’s residents to imagine a playful, quieter, greener version of what the Town Centre could be like.
'Twirl' encapsulates the demonstrative, celebratory and playful spirit of the occasion, which aims to help inspire residents contributions to the forthcoming Tooting Community Plan. Planned activities include a giant flower bed, fancy dress, art installations, street games and activities as well as a short parade featuring singing, dancing, and of course, twirling!
Why the ‘Tooting Twirl’?
Richard Couldrey, Tooting Twirl co-organiser explains: "Building on the grand success of the 2016 Tour de Tooting, which celebrated people-powered wheels, this year we’re collaborating with London Buses, Wandsworth Borough Council and a plethora of Community Groups, to imagine a more people-friendly version of what our Town Centre could be. What does Tooting have that we love? how can we collectively reimagine its future? This will feed into the Tooting Bec and Broadway Neighbourhood Plan to give the event real legacy".
Fellow Co-Organiser, Lucy Neal adds "it’s good to play, it helps us imagine the world the way we would like it to be healthier, greener, happier, more connected. Transforming the bus turning circle into a pop-up village green for the day will help us all see the possibilities for change".
Tooting MP, Dr Rosena Allin-Khan says "Recently we have seen so many people united in sadness, let’s get together and celebrate all that's amazing about Tooting".
How can people get involved? The ‘village green’ will be designed by Tooting residents and the Twirl team: Bring a colourful potted plant for the Giant Twirly Flower Bed; dressing up ‘twirly' on the day; bringing skipping ropes and favourite street games; making ‘handmade twirls’ and decorating your wheels.
Preparatory workshop to be held at the Catholic Formation Centre on June 27th and the BATCA Community Fun Day on July 15th – all welcome, full details at www.transitiontowntooting.blogspot.co.uk
Also, please support our crowdfunding campaign from 20th June til 11th July at: bit.ly/TootingTwirl.
The Tooting Twirl
When? Sunday 16th July, 12noon – 4pm
Where? The Bus Turning Circle, Longmead Road, Tooting
What? A pop-up Village Green of course! With street games, making, food, music and more
Social: @tttooting #tootingtwirl
Article supplied by Rhona Sampson
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