Happiness at Kew Bridge Eco Village (From Hounslow Guardian)

Happiness at Kew Bridge Eco Village

5:42pm Friday 29th January 2010

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By Community Correspondent Sophie Swithinbank On June 6th 2009, on a brown-field site that had been empty for ten years, a group of activists set up the Eco Village. To start with, one hundred people became involved in this community, which is entirely based on sustainable technology and construction techniques. Now the community has grown so successfully that many people are not able to stay at the village permanently. The group is inspired by “The Land is Ours” campaigners and they work co-operatively, improving the village everyday, to live up to their motto – “Be the change you wish to see”.

Their main objective is to “chill out and let the public know what they’re all about”. They welcome any ideas about what they should do with the land.

At the moment they are essentially a community garden, and everyone gets involved in planting vegetables, so they can all eat like kings! They welcome people from all over the world, to spread their message that a small idea can make a great change if everyone gets involved. The Eco Villagers have definitely proved that “the Land is theirs” as they have worked together to make it their own.

Over the last seven months they have significantly improved their living conditions. They now have a fully operating compost toilet and a kitchen. They have also learned to build their own houses out of hazel wood and anyone is welcome to stay, providing there is enough space, they abide by the rules – no drugs or alcohol – and participate as a member of this impressive, extraordinary and happy community.

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