A crowdfunding campaign aims to transform Tooting's Bus Turning Circle into a pop-up village green.

Imagine if the buses moved over for the day in Tooting’s busy Town Centre to create a pop-up village green where children could play and families and friends could share a picnic and watch the world go by.

Transition Town Tooting has launched a crowdfunding campaign on Fundsurfer for The Tooting Twirl, with the campaign running to Tuesday 11th July. The Tooting Twirl will take place on Sunday 16th July, creating a pop-up village green in the Bus Turning Circle at Tooting Broadway. 

The event aims to show Tooting what a playful, quieter, greener version of its Town Centre could be like. Funds will go towards the building of a Giant Twirly Flower Bed, music, activities, crafts, benches and more. Funds will also help to relocate the buses. You can help fund the campaign at bit.ly/TootingTwirl.

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.” 

Want to get involved? The village green will be designed by Tooting residents and the Twirl team, so residents are invited to:

• bring a colourful potted plant for the Giant Twirly Flower Bed
• dress up ‘twirly' on the day
• bring skipping ropes and favourite street games
• make ‘handmade twirls’ and decorate your wheels. 

You can support the campaign by donating at bit.ly/TootingTwirl.

The next workshop will be held at the Catholic Formation Centre on June 27^th. Full details at www.transitiontowntooting.blogspot.co.uk 

The Tooting Twirl will take place on Sunday 16th July, 12noon – 4pm at The Bus Turning Circle, Longmead Road, Tooting.