Our Benches
Why benches?
This is about getting public benches out into the Beckenham community. Benches are places for people to sit, meet and chat. They are places where people can bump into each other.
These have been termed ‘bumping places’ and research shows that communities where people chat and get to know each other produce stronger communities. We also know that physical activity is really important for good health and walking is part of this. Research shows that places to sit are really important in allowing people to walk. Older people, young kids and many others need places they can stop and rest when they take a walk, and regularly placed benches can provide that.
About the benches
These benches have been made out of pallets and decorated. The work has been done by a variety of people in the community, starting with people at Cashmere New Life Church and then more widely by others in the community. Many of the benches have been decorated by local tamariki.
Want to help make & decorate them?
We are currently making/constructing them on the 1st Sunday of the month from 10am to 12 noon at the back of Cashmere New Life church (St. Saviours Church on Colombo St opposite Countdown).
And decorating (painting) them on the 3rd Sunday of the month from 10am to 12 noon at the same venue.
If you have any spare brightly coloured outdoor water based paint we could use, please let us know, and someone will come and collect it.
For more details email: betterbeckenham@gmail.com
There is a map of existing benches in the community, and we are now looking for locations for other benches. The criteria for the best location for the benches are:
They need to be space out in the neighbourhood. So not grouped in clusters and not adjacent to existing benches.
Security is important (we don’t want people thinking they are ‘available’ to be taken away) so attaching them to something (probably a fence) is necessary.
They can’t block pavements. Ideally they will be on the narrow grass verge between the pavement and a fence (not all streets in Beckenham have this).
Preferably pleasant locations, with interesting views.
