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There is a new haven in Southwark Walworth Methodist church which will be at the heart of the garden.

On the International Day of Peace, I visited this magnificent garden with a few other students from our Academy. When I arrived at the garden, I was caught by the beauty of the garden which is straight ahead from the reception where you sign in. Oh my how the plants shone and shimmered in the rain! We received a leaflet which contained shocking information on the history and reasoning behind this new garden. "When a Southwark resident Abdurrahman Musa-Johnson was attacked in a alleyway near his home in 2015 by men who he later discovered were his neighbours, no-one realised it would lead to the formation of a community-wide project to tackle the challenges of knife crime at source" Such tragic news alarmed everyone as it reinforced just how devastating knife crime can be. Unfortunately this still continues and increases by the second across London  with Southwark experiencing amongst the highest number of incidents of any borough in the capital, averaging two serious knife incidents a day.

After the harrowing experience of Abdul the local residents, members of the Walworth Methodist church  and representatives from the metropolitan police, Southwark council and anti-knife crime forum met together to see what could be done. The concept of Southwark peace garden was born and progress was made for it to act as a focal point of the community and bold, symbolic statement of their commitment to action. Schools, colleges, youth groups, local businesses, trade groups, charitable foundations, the police and local resident supported with grants, donations and a crowd funding project to drive change !!

Yes they did succeed and now this new venue will be remembered by these people who cared about the local community and all of its residents.

There is also a surprise; in a very short time ahead in the future a new addition to the peace garden will be unveiled. A selection of blunted weapons which were used in actual crimes and seized by the police in just over a month have been issued to a London sculpture workshop which has been given the amazing task of building the blunted knives into a statue. This sculpture will be displayed in the very centre of these magnificent peace garden. Mixed emotions and thoughts came to the table regarding how will this statue be safe and legal to be placed in this oh so ever so peaceful garden.

It was an honour going on this trip and it showed me and taught me that knife crime is something that should not be put to rest but should be dealt with and noticed by the public by whatever means necessary. If imagined being in the same situation at Abdul you can see how hard it must be for him; yet  he reported it not because he felt scared but because he knew if he didn't they may do it to someone else and no-one deserves to suffer; not at a young age or old. No-one deserves it.

Thank you for reading if wanting more information please visit this website: www.Southwarkpeacegarden.com

Autumn Year 8 student