A new environmental mural in Tulse Hill is calling for residents to take action against the climate crisis.
The artwork, which is situated on Norwood Road, calls for a “greener cleaner cooler world” and encourages people to use their voice to make a difference, by protesting or voting.
It was designed by 17-year-old Janet Alao from Rochdale, a Grantham art prize winner in 2023 and was painted by Michelle Meola, a mural artist and environmental activist.
The year 2023 was the warmest on record, in a series recorded from 1850, according to Met Office data published in January.
Meola, from Hackney, said: “It’s imperative we all do what we can, while we can and that requires taking action, becoming part of a movement, joining an environmental organisation, making your voice heard. It’s a message Janet captured well.”
The mural was painted on the busy high street that connects both Tulse Hill and West Norwood train stations.
The location was chosen for its liveliness, connecting many residential roads, being on multiple bus routes, and having a prime location next to Elmwood School.
Henry Westcott, a 36-year-old art director living in Tulse Hill, said: “The benefits of the mural are twofold. Not only does it lend some colour to a previously graffiti-strewn concrete wall, but it’s an optimistic reminder to local residents that anything we can do on a daily basis to help the planet is a positive thing.
“The fact that it’s opposite our local polling station is a nice touch too – it’s positioned to incite action.”
The Grantham Climate Art Prize, which has been running since 2018, is run by the Grantham Institute at Imperial College London and sponsored by Octopus Energy.
The competition invited “young people, who will be most affected by climate change” to design murals focused on solutions to tackle the climate crisis.
Over 1200 entries were submitted, each designing a positive image to the prompt: “9 Things You Can Do About Climate Change”.
Alao won in the 15-18 category, while Samuel Webb from Sutton won in the 11-14 category and Ria Hoondle from Barking won in the 19-25.
Their murals were painted in Coventry and Glasgow respectively. Each winner also received £500.
Meola, who previously painted the mural for the same prize in Tower Hamlets in 2021, added: “I was proud to paint this, as it encourages young people in particular to engage with the topic and hopefully inspires them to take action.”
The mural took 15 days to complete and Meola started painting in October, although cold and wet weather meant the artwork wasn’t finished until November.
One 23-year-old Tulse Hill resident, who walks past the mural on his way to work, said: “It provides a message of empowerment to young people who often feel powerless to make their voices heard.”
Other environmental propositions have also affected the area.
Last year, the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) zone, imposed by the government to curb carbon dioxide emissions in the capital, was extended to include the whole of Tulse Hill and West Norwood.
The scheme charges select diesel and petrols car owners £12.50 a day to drive in the area and previously stopped at the top of Tulse Hill before the extension.
Meola added: “It’s important to raise awareness of environmental issues, as we’re all impacted by the consequences of climate change.
“We collectively need to engage with the issue and apply pressure on our representatives to make smart environmental choices and this mural focuses on ‘using your voice’. So how will the people of Tulse Hill use theirs?”
