Following what has been an extremely wet Winter season, the return of Spring later this month is probably being welcomed by many. Below we’ll walk you through a few sights that might help to put a spring in your step as you get out and about in Wimbledon in the coming weeks.
Two of our newest additions to the Broadway (pictured below) go by the name of Siren and Sage and can be located on Alwyne Road, off Wimbledon Hill Road, in Wimbledon Town Centre. Named by Extinction Rebellion Merton, they are the main attraction of Love Wimbledon’s new wall art installation “It’s Oh So Quiet” which was created in collaboration with artist Louis Masai and local photographer and culture campaigner Cindy Sasha. As well as adding some new life to Wimbledon Town Centre, this piece aims to raise awareness of the decline of British birds in London, particularly the House Sparrow, renowned for its birdsong and seen as a vital part of urban life.
As explained on the Love Wimbledon website, ‘It’s Oh So Quiet’ features a male house sparrow and female house sparrow inferring the question of ‘where has the sparrow song gone’. Based on the hit single ‘It’s Oh So Quiet’ by Icelandic musician Björk, the art reflects how birdsong has reduced over time, due to the population decline of this bird species.
The disappearance of birdsong could have a profound impact on human health. The natural sounds of birdsong have been linked to improved mental and emotional health amongst humans. Hearing birdsong allows us to connect with the natural world and can be the perfect antidote to the pressures of modern life.
As you explore further down The Broadway near the New Wimbledon Theatre, you will find the first ever rainbow pedestrian crossing in the UK which adds more than just a splash of colour and shows support to the LGBTQ community in Wimbledon Town Centre.
This pedestrian crossing is yet another Love Wimbledon creation which has been brought to life in partnership with Merton Council.
As Love Wimbledon continues to create and fund a variety of cultural and environmental notions in the town centre, the 7th and 8th March will see the first of 2020’s Love Wimbledon Local Markets which will bring live music and exciting new traders to The Piazza outside Morrisons.
Written by Genevieve Etienne-Farrell
