Setting up a Neighbourhood Watch in your area

Lambeth Borough Police have appointed a new neighbourhood watch coordinator, whose job it is to encourage and support new and existing neighbouhood watch schemes.

Karen Hunn visited the Prince's ward Safer Neighbourhoods Panel meeting last week to tell residents about the scheme.

Existing residents' associations can form themselves into Neighbourhood Watches. Benefits include signs and stickers which help deter crime, reductions on home insurance, and free public liability insurance for burglary.

If you are interested in setting up a Neighbourhood Watch group, email Karen: Karen.Hunn@met.police.uk

Picnic in Paradise!

The Friends of Lambeth High Street Recreation Ground are hosting a:

Picnic in Paradise

Saturday 26 June
2pm - 4pm

Free, drop-in children's activities, bring your own picnic

You can tell us and the park's designer your wishes for the park and vote on whether to change the name to 'Old Paradise Gardens'

If you can't join us, you can still have your say - email friends.lambethrec@googlemail.com or comment here

Estates in Bloom competition

Green fingered tenants and leaseholders living in Lambeth are being encouraged to get growing. The tenth annual Estates in Bloom competition will take place this summer.

Last year more than 100 people entered the competition making it the most popular year ever. Their efforts transformed Lambeth with colourful blooms and green arrangements brightening up estate gardens and open spaces.

With a wide range of categories, gardeners are able to display an array of skills from domestic paved or grassed gardens to community gardens. There’s even a category for young gardeners.

Entries close on 23 July 2010, so there’s plenty of time to nurture something special on your estate.

Last year’s overall winner was Mrs May Horscroft for her display on the Edmondsbury Estate, Brixton Hill. She was awarded a £500 gardening voucher. She still can’t believe she won, having only been a gardener for the eight years she’s lived on the estate: “My father was a great gardener but I’ve only had my own garden since I’ve been here. It’s just so peaceful being outside working in it and it keeps me busy”.

Even though she’s already started on this year’s entry, Mrs Horscroft is happy to share some tips with her competitors: “Just keep trying, if it doesn’t come up the first time put another seed in”.

Who will be this year’s winner?

Youth Mayor's Fund

Are you aged 13 – 19?

Do you live, work or study in Lambeth?

Do you have an idea for a project to benefit young people?

If you can answer 'yes' to all of these questions, then the Youth Mayor’s Fund is for you. Lambeth's Youth Mayor has been given a budget of £25,000 to fund projects run by young people for young people, to make Lambeth a more exciting, rewarding place to be.

Whether you want to set up an arts project on your local estate, a sports project in your local park, a multi-media workshop from your local youth club, or organise visits or clubs for your school or college – we want to know about it.

Applications can be for any amount up to £6000, and must be received by Wednesday 30 June 2010.

So if you have an idea for making Lambeth better for young people, use the forms on this page to make an application and make it happen.

We're waiting to hear from you. Good luck.

Roots & Shoots Open Day

Roots & Shoots will be opening its garden this Sunday (13 June) as part of London Open Garden Squares Weekend.

It will be a fantastic chance to explore North Lambeth's richest and most diverse wildlife garden, as well as to enjoy exhibitions on biodiversity and green roofs, and have a chance to buy organic produce and plants.

Entry to Roots & Shoots alone will be £3 (with free tea and cake), and the garden will be open from 10am to 5pm. You can also buy a £7.50 ticket giving you access to all the private garden squares open over the weekend across the capital.

St Thomas' Hospital open day

St Thomas' Hospital will be opening its doors on Saturday 19 June from 11am to 4pm for the Trust's annual open day.

The open day is a great way to find out about the vast range of services Guy's and St Thomas' has to offer.

This year promises to be a fantastic event with lots of fun and entertainment including a five piece steel band, workshops, face painters and more than 40 stalls to visit. There will also be the opportunity to find out more about getting fit and staying healthy.

Cottington Community Garden big tidy up!

Residents of the Cottington Close Estate will be leading a second day of work on their new community garden - tidying, weeding, pruning, planting and painting.

Lambeth Council is lending a hand as part of Labour's 'Community Freshview' scheme, where community groups are given the tools and assistance they need to lead a clean-up themselves.

Come and help out from 10am on Saturday 19 June!