Polka announces the Tidy Community Project

Polka’s Community Team invite you to join us for a fun, interactive day in nature at Wandle Park, Colliers Wood, inspired by Polka’s Spring production, Tidy.

Saturday 16 March 2024, 11am – 3pm – Tidy, Build, Create

The lead character of this production, Pete, the badger, is very enthusiastic to tidy up his local environment. We’ll be tidying, creating and building in the park and we would love you to get involved. The activities will include:

• Litter picking
• Eco trail around the park with prizes available on completion
• Pebble painting
• Mask making
• Willow weaving of a sculpture in the park (with community groups we are working with, there are limited spaces on these workshops)

Calling local residents and families, join us as we pick litter, paint pebbles, make masks and explore the park with a fun eco trail.

Local artist, Tim Norris, will be also be joining us to lead on creating a natural sculpture, similar to sculptures in Cannizaro Park, see images below. Children from community groups including Care4Calais, who support families living in temporary accommodation close to Wandle Park, will help to build the a sculpture made from willow. All children will be able to play in sculpture den when they come to the park for weeks after this community day.

We are delighted to have successfully secured funding from Clarion Futures, as part of their Community Green Grants Programme, to enable us to deliver these activities.

Local organisations who will be represented or have been invited to take part in the day include Merton Council, RSPB, Care4Calais, Colliers Wood Parks and Green Spaces and members of the Wandle Catchment Partnership.

“The Polka team are looking forward to a day of fun activities with the local community in Wandle Park. It’s lovely to be able to link our community projects with the wonderful shows on stage at Polka Theatre, and Tidy is particularly fitting for this as we work as a team to look after the environment around us. We are delighted that Tim Norris will be joining us, with the help of local children, to create a willow sculpture that can be played in over the weeks and months to come.” Fran Chabrel, Community Engagement Manager at Polka Theatre.

Photo credit Tim Norris.