What rewilding projects are you involved in or would like to share?
Nature restoration and rewilding have become so topical, from No Mow Way to towns and cities rewilding parks and verges - what rewilding projects have you noticed, joined or started?
I’ve loved the small pockets of urban rewilding near me in West London by groups like Abundance London. One area they rewilded was a grassy area that used to attract fly tipping and builder’s rubble. They asked the council to stop mowing the grass and planted 5,000+ spring bulbs in autumn 2022 (daffodils, snowdrops, crocus, etc). They've mown a neat path through the meadow and encourage people to use it.
Fly-tipping has almost ceased and is dealt with swiftly. Builders no longer park their skips on this space with impunity. The community has rediscovered its pride and joy in the space. Wonderful!
I also hear that, near you, Chiswick House and Gardens is about to embark on a small rewilding project financed by the Mayor of London. Have you heard of it?
Yes I have! They received £50,000 as part of the Mayor’s Rewild London Fund. The fund was introduced to “help make the capital more resilient to climate change.” I'm so delighted to see these sorts of projects in my area!
I personally really enjoyed travelling to and writing about Mile End Park. The green bridge they have built there is something that I found unique and innovative in London, especially given the work that many parks in London have undertaken to further ecological projects - its relatively rare to find wholly new concepts being explored. Hopefully we can see such projects take off and expand across the UK. Check out my full article talking about the green bridge and everything else being done at Mile End Park here: https://www.plus.lettssafari.com/p/london-rewilding-mile-end-park?r=6loq8&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I've read your piece. London is doing lots of rewilding. I just went to the Tower of London and they've rewilded the moat. Besides being fascinating ( they used a plow pulled by a draft horse rather then a modern tractor or rotatiller to break up the soil initially and they use it to mow some areas twice a year) it is beautiful and a real boon to bees, butterflies small mammals right in the middle of the city.
Thanks Kara! Sounds really unique as an approach to maintaining space, but following the principles of the rare mow is really important especially in cities where green spaces are often reshaped for the human purpose, rather than left to grow at its own pace.
Thanks Sebastian, you're coverage of Mile End Park was truly fascinating. Their green bridge is becoming a visible milestone to galvanise the capital further.
Since I've subscribed to LettsSafari 2 years ago I've noticed rewilding activity in many small gardens throughout London. But really the biggest change I've seen is Exeter city rewilding all their verges and green areas. I had a chance to talk to the City CEO and he was super excited about the rewilding they were doing. He said it was rare that the city could do something so positive and save money at the same time!
It's great to hear about political movements to spread green messages and effects in local government. Hopefully Exeter will only get greener and with LettsSafari's influence we'll be able to see a web of green cities and spaces across the southwest.
Thanks Kara. That's great to hear. I think LettsSafari's Exeter parks have had quite a positive ripple effect across Exeter and the surrounding regions.
Yes . I've seen so many new rewilding projects pop up around Exeter. And I have several friends who were inspired by visits to LettsSafari to start small rewilding projects in their villages. One really successful one was near Buckfastleigh
I’ve loved the small pockets of urban rewilding near me in West London by groups like Abundance London. One area they rewilded was a grassy area that used to attract fly tipping and builder’s rubble. They asked the council to stop mowing the grass and planted 5,000+ spring bulbs in autumn 2022 (daffodils, snowdrops, crocus, etc). They've mown a neat path through the meadow and encourage people to use it.
Fly-tipping has almost ceased and is dealt with swiftly. Builders no longer park their skips on this space with impunity. The community has rediscovered its pride and joy in the space. Wonderful!
Thanks John. What a great example!
I also hear that, near you, Chiswick House and Gardens is about to embark on a small rewilding project financed by the Mayor of London. Have you heard of it?
Yes I have! They received £50,000 as part of the Mayor’s Rewild London Fund. The fund was introduced to “help make the capital more resilient to climate change.” I'm so delighted to see these sorts of projects in my area!
I personally really enjoyed travelling to and writing about Mile End Park. The green bridge they have built there is something that I found unique and innovative in London, especially given the work that many parks in London have undertaken to further ecological projects - its relatively rare to find wholly new concepts being explored. Hopefully we can see such projects take off and expand across the UK. Check out my full article talking about the green bridge and everything else being done at Mile End Park here: https://www.plus.lettssafari.com/p/london-rewilding-mile-end-park?r=6loq8&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I've read your piece. London is doing lots of rewilding. I just went to the Tower of London and they've rewilded the moat. Besides being fascinating ( they used a plow pulled by a draft horse rather then a modern tractor or rotatiller to break up the soil initially and they use it to mow some areas twice a year) it is beautiful and a real boon to bees, butterflies small mammals right in the middle of the city.
Thanks Kara! Sounds really unique as an approach to maintaining space, but following the principles of the rare mow is really important especially in cities where green spaces are often reshaped for the human purpose, rather than left to grow at its own pace.
Thanks Sebastian, you're coverage of Mile End Park was truly fascinating. Their green bridge is becoming a visible milestone to galvanise the capital further.
Since I've subscribed to LettsSafari 2 years ago I've noticed rewilding activity in many small gardens throughout London. But really the biggest change I've seen is Exeter city rewilding all their verges and green areas. I had a chance to talk to the City CEO and he was super excited about the rewilding they were doing. He said it was rare that the city could do something so positive and save money at the same time!
It's great to hear about political movements to spread green messages and effects in local government. Hopefully Exeter will only get greener and with LettsSafari's influence we'll be able to see a web of green cities and spaces across the southwest.
Thanks Kara. That's great to hear. I think LettsSafari's Exeter parks have had quite a positive ripple effect across Exeter and the surrounding regions.
Yes . I've seen so many new rewilding projects pop up around Exeter. And I have several friends who were inspired by visits to LettsSafari to start small rewilding projects in their villages. One really successful one was near Buckfastleigh
Hi Kara, is this the project you are thinking of near Buckfastleigh, Devon: https://www.ambios.net/devon-rewilding-network-visit-to-brook-manor/