Merton

It's been a very kid-focussed time for me. The only leisure time I have is when I've got my 5 year old daughter to bed, then I'll have a cup of tea or something. We've kept ourselves to ourselves and not really gone out of our comfort zone. I'm stilling worrying about it all (the virus). It's helpful to see other parents in the park and see how they're coping.

What I would really love is
just a tiny bit of 'me time'.
And some stability.

If you were to design a flag to represent your community, what symbols or images would you include?

It's difficult because I have asthma, so I can't wear a mask. Whenever I go into shops people give me funny looks. This makes me feel really uncomfortable.

I wasn't sure I
could cope with
so much more
parenting...
but I did!

I normally keep to myself to myself, so not much for me has changed. I work in sales and I drive around in my car. I run in the park. Do I feel safe? Yes, because it's well lit and also I'm a man so y'know... it's different for me.

My husband has asthma and so up until August we were completely hermit-like.

I think that life has improved since Covid. Life was too rushed before.

I've just been talking to a group of mums I'd not already met – I think everyone has got their guards down a bit more these days.

One mum I do know has just been made redundant which is sad but she saw the silver lining when she was able to pick her daughter up from school for the first time. She got to meet all the people that her daughter had been exposed to for over a year.

There is a group, I think they're called The Dons and the stuff they have been doing with food parcels is amazing. The volunteering I've seen recently is just great but there should have been a social support structure in place before Covid. The pandemic has unearthed a whole bunch of stuff.

We're lucky, we'll be able to keep our house...
but others won't!

Suicide rates are going up. This is having a huge effect on people's mental health. I really worry for young people!

During October 2020 The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine commissioned the arts organisation F.A.T. Studio to run a community engagement project in Merton. The aim of the project was to listen to the residents of Merton and get a sense of how they felt about their neighbourhood environment post Covid-19. The F.A.T. Studio artists went out to parks in Morden and St. Helier and spoke to people of all ages and backgrounds. This online exhibition gathers together their findings.

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Life has been better really. We’ve been spending more time as a family, riding bikes and scooters in the park and stuff.

During lockdown the playground in this park (Mostyn Park) was bolted but people just ignored it and unlocked it with bolt cutters. I knew that would happen because although it doesn’t affect us as adults, not having access to the playground causes an absolute meltdown for a 3 year old like my daughter.

I will say, it’s been a real pain for my son. He used to go to his 1-2-1 swimming lessons but they’ve been cancelled for the last 8 months. What is hard is that the pool is now reopened for group swimming, but his lessons are still cancelled because he has special needs. It seems really badly managed. I don’t mind if you put that in your exhibition, I want the council to know that.

This year we’ve been seeing neighbours more, saying hello more, meeting other children her (her daughter) age when we’ve gone out to clap for the NHS.

I would like a bit more parents-time but we’ve been so busy. We go walking everyday on the commons and into the wooded areas – yeah lots of walking. She’s learnt to ride her bike, she’s learnt to read. At the beginning of lockdown I was still on maternity leave with him (her baby) so I was kind of already staying inside a lot. So when she wasn’t able to go to school I was worried about how challenging it was going to be. I wasn’t sure I could cope with doing more parenting, but I did!

We noticed some log-themed decoration competition happening in peoples gardens in an area near to us and that was really fun to see. I felt like a new spirit of community interaction was starting.

We were glad to go and visit some of the soft play cafes we used to go to when they reopened. They were happy to see us and we were happy to see them – we really want to help local businesses survive.

I’ve lived in Merton since I was really young, like 3 or something. I actually recently made a film about life here. I’m studying at UAL (University of the Arts London), I’m doing a Masters in photography. My final show has gone digital which is bad because with photography, or with my photography at least it’s all about the physicality of the print.

Merton used to be a cultural desert, but the arts scene is flourishing! My mum has always been involved in the arts and we’re both part of a network of artists that do projects in local schools which is good. Also I’ve recently been involved with this local radio show that is running from an Italian restaurant in Morden. So yeah, I think there are creative things going on but you have to know about them.

It feels very safe to me here, safe to travel around… but I know where to avoid.

I think we’re lacking good, smaller shops instead of supermarkets.

This year I’ve really been getting back to nature. I’ve been rediscovering it shall we say. I’ve been climbing trees again. There is this one big tree near me which people used to say was haunted and I never used to go near it, but over the lockdown I was appreciating nature more and I started climbing up that tree and sitting in it and now I sit in it every day!

Boy 1: If there's too many people on the train, I'll get off. My family are quite like that though. I think that's like most people here, people are careful.

Normally I come here everyday, after doing homework. We just come here and mess about really. There was a nature trail a while ago - it was very crunchy, lots of acorns. Over lockdown we were playing with people we don’t know in this park. If anything happened to me everyone would have my back, because I know so many people.

We go to Morrisons or Londis - or Amy’s groceries! We buy a meal deal from Morrisons - I get maltesers, a sandwich and a drink.

Boy 2: I get sour sweets and water!

Boy 3: We got a coffee this morning. I LOVE frappucinos!

I went to a private school before now (referring to secondary school) not to brag or anything but I feel like I know quite a lot already so it hasn’t been that hard so far.

I go around on my bike and sometimes I ride almost 2 miles away. My phone has GPS though and so my parents always know where I am or where I’m going.

There is no community around here. Nowhere near as much as there used to be. The thing is it’s a mutli-racial community here and there isn’t enough communication between them. I grew up here, I’ve lived here almost all my life. When I was younger, the council owned the houses and they used to run front garden competitions that everyone got involved in. We were always out on the streets and in and out of each other's houses.

My generation could do whatever we wanted – it’s different now, it’s different for you.

Y’know what it is, I think there is a general sense of weariness. Nobody knows what to do anymore. There is a feeling like ‘are we being had-over?’. My answer is ‘Yes, but I don’t know who by!’

Siobhain McDonagh is an excellent MP. Shes cares. I didn’t vote for her but she cares.

Do I feel safe? No, I don’t open my door at night. Because I don’t know who’s going to be there. A couple of years ago I was woken up in the night by 2 eastern european men running through my garden. So no I don’t feel safe really.

Works been slow for me during Covid. I run a one-man cab service and I do like one job a week now! I used to do airport runs, nights outs, schools runs, the lot. Now I’m just staying home and looking after my mum. Im cooking for her a lot because I’m a good cook. I’ll probably get fish and chips one night a week.

Oh and I’ve also been learning French. How’s it going – c’est bon!

If I was to spend all of my time completely inside - I’d go mad!

I’d draw a world but half of it is normal and half of it is the coronavirus germ – because it feels like coronavirus is taking over.

If I was to draw a flag for this community I’d draw all the flags to show respect to all the different people that live here. Not just country flags, it would include LGBTQ flag, non-binary flag and the trans flag.

It’s been so strange here – the parks were completely empty during lockdown!

I count myself as being blessed because we have a garden. Y'know I wouldn't say I was rich, but this is certainly an affluent area. People can afford their own space.

But yeah, there are absolutely no cultural events going on at the moment. I miss going to the cinema, theatre, seeing comedy. And no street parties – we used to have them once a year. There’s none of that now and no new activities either. I think it would be great to have a BMX or skateboard park. Y’know there are 700 kids over there (points at school) and they need better facilities. Otherwise what are we paying council tax for?

The best thing I saw was this rope swing that someone had built. It was in a park over there and someone had just strung up a bit of wood from a tree. It was so good! That’s the kind of intervention I want to see.

I get around on my electric scooter – I can take my two kids on the back, it’s great. We don’t need a car, we just walk or scoot around. It’s so safe round here.

It’s really important to me to support local shops and it’s become my default. It’s a bit more expensive yeah, but it’s worth it. Someone was talking about going to Sainsburys in an Uber the other day and I just thought ‘That’s nuts!’ Why would you want to give all your money into shareholders pockets? It’s bulls**t.

I love working from home - I can hoover and things in between work calls and nobody can check up on where I am. That for me has been the best thing about the lockdown, before I had to travel all over. I’ve been cycling a lot with my kids - that’s all we did over lockdown really! My wife only makes fresh homemade food always, we never get takeaways.

I don’t think it has affected us that much - we try and stay positive. It was hard not being able to leave the house, especially with children, but the council ran some online activities for children which helped - that was really good.

There were times when we could see someone in the family was feeling down, but we have this thing that we do in our family where if one of us see’s that someone else is upset they say ‘combo!’ and everyone in the family has to hug that person - we ‘re a very close family.It doesn’t mean anything we just made it up. I try to keep positive, after something bad happens the sunshine always follows.

There was no access to the park during lockdown but now we come here most days after school. It’s a good one, because he (her son) can climb in the trees and recently he’s been collecting conkers.

There were lots of residents groups that started up in lockdown – separate groups for separate roads.

We’ve been doing a lot more baking recently – like the rest of the nation.

I think it would be great if there was some kind of community garden around here – just incase lockdown happened again.

I’ve lived in Merton all my life. I used to play in this park after school and now he (her son) does. There are lots of things that could be done better in Merton but it is a good place to live. It’s on the edge of London but also close to lots of green areas so really it’s the best of both worlds.

We’ve always been a family that goes on a walk almost every day, we go to John Innes Park near our house. But recently that park has become a lot more popular – I think people have been realising what’s on their doorstep.

But also I think people used lockdown as a reason not to be sociable.

(Son) What did I get up to during lockdown? Just playing more Xbox I guess. It is kind of sociable because I can play games with other people online – but only people I know because my parent-lock is on.

We’ve been doing lots of bread making and actually we’ve saved a lot of money. We’re a big family and so right at the beginning of lockdown I bought a big freezer and yeah, it’s saved us money for sure. We’ve spent a lot less on takeaways.

For us the last year has been much the same. We’re already in a kind of bubble. We’re so lucky – we’ll get to keep our house because we own it. But I feel so sorry for the people who are at risk of losing theirs. I really worry about them.

It’s such a hard time for younger people. Young people need their freedom, they need the chance to go out and interact with others and not being able to do that is so hard. Covid is having a profound effect on the world.The suicide rates are going up, unemployment is going up, people are getting evicted from their homes. It’s like, what’s the worst evil? What will be the worst thing to come out of this – mental health, education, jobs, businesses or covid deaths? It’s just so hard and we’re so lucky to have what we do.

Take care of yourselves.

I’ve only just moved to Merton actually.

I’ve had my dog for about 8 years. I take her for walks sometimes – me and my family share that.

I’ve been doing more gardening than normal. We’ve planted vegetables – mainly carrots.

I’ve started a foundation art course at college but it’s all online. I’ve only actually been to the college 2 times. It’s a shame because our lesions are online but nobody really attends them.

It’s been a lovely 6 months for me, especially the last 2 months. It’s just so spacious around here. I especially like Morden Park and other parks near Central Road. I’m a childminder so I spend most of my time with children. We’ve just taken advantage of all the stuff that is around and just slowed down a bit recently.

I think there is a kind of outdoorsy spirit to Merton, which I think is inspired by Morden Hall. There are lots of forest schools popping up. What was once a kind of rugby club hut is now being turned into a new forest school which is nice.

I think we could do with some more stuff for the really little ones though. Maybe some really secure soft play cafes? It would be great to have a mixture of play spaces.

I was furloughed all throughout lockdown - I loved it! I got to spend time with my family.

I’m working again now, I don’t take public transport, we have a car. Going back to work doesn’t worry me, I drive to and from work (Builder) they’ve put loads of restrictions in place at the site I work on, it’s crazy! Covid doesn’t really worry me, everyone around here is pretty safe. I wouldn’t say the community has changed at all, no.

I think life has got better this year. Everything is a bit more laid back. I’ve slowed down, I’m thinking more and focussing less on work.

I live in the Haig Estate which is an estate for ex-service families. There are about 300 people living there and it’s been a good time for that community. There are support groups and we’re basically just really looking out for each other. I hear that crime is going up but I still feel safe. I don’t think anybody is going to be breaking into a community made up of ex-military men and women.

We go on trips around the UK on weekends which is nice. We went to Canterbury and we’ve been walking in the Surrey Hills. I think I’ve just been appreciating the small things more.

I come walking in this park everyday with my dog. Having a dog is a really great way to get outside. I had a dog for a long time but then it died and I went for 2 years without one. But then last year my wife got me a new dog for my birthday. This is Pepe! He’s half Jack Russell and half Chiwawa – full of energy.

Having a dog helps you to know people in your area. There was this one woman that I used to see everyday when I got on the tube, she worked for TFL. Then one day she wasn’t there and I thought maybe she had retired or… I don’t know. But then just the other day, 10 years later, I saw her in the park with her dog! She looked well and it was really lovely to see her.

It’s a pretty quiet area, not very commercial and I really like that. If we want to go out for dinner we can go to Wimbolden or somewhere, but around here there isn’t that much.

Ah it’s been a really difficult time financially. I work in events, which is a forgotten industry anyway really. But yeah, there has not been any work for me. And recently my husband got made redundant, so yeah it’s been really hard. But that sounds all doom and gloom… despite all those problems, we’ve been able to spend more time with our 3 children and that’s been an amazing experience. It’s really helped us remember what’s important.

There is a strong Merton community who know each other.

My partner and I moved here in April, so just at the beginning of lockdown. First impressions is that the people here are a lot older – it feels lovely to be the youngest people on our street. We used to live in Shepherds Bush (central west London) and I guess we just wanted to be somewhere a bit quieter and spacious.I’ve spent most of my free time recently just doing work to the house we’ve moved into; painting, decorating, even gardening now that I actually have a garden!

I’ve actually just been made redundant which is quite tough. It does mean I’m not travelling into central London for work. I think my partner and I have only gotten the tube five times this year which is crazy.

It does seem really friendly here. We’ve been going down to Merton Abbey Mills a bit which is really nice, there is an arts and crafts market which we like. But yeah, mainly it’s just been gardening for me, which I find really therapeutic.