Apprentice gardener, India Dowdeswell, lifts the lid on the nature projects in bloom in Bow.
As we know, cities are not thought of as the safest area for many species. With heavy traffic and dense housing, it can seem as though there is not a lot of wild space left around us.
However, did you know that around 47% of Greater London is green? This gives us spaces to relax and kick back when the stress of life becomes too much and can also offer our local wildlife a home to thrive in.
Clarion wants to further aid biodiversity throughout Bow in East London, so this is why we have partnered up with Tranquil City to conduct a yearlong re-wilding project promoting species growth and resident connectivity with nature.
Preserving and enhancing London’s green spaces
Our world is constantly changing, but with the upscale of human development and activity, we have drastically sped up the course of natural change. This is having detrimental effects seen worldwide, not only for humans but for the planet’s species, too.
Every one of us can help change the current course, and one project we certainly hope can kickstart change is the Mayor of London’s re-wilding scheme.
London has a lot of green spaces, which are amazing for human health, but also a range of biodiversity; in fact, more than 15,000 different species have been reported within London.
Throughout the country and the wider world, scientists, and conservationists are working around the clock to try and save species from becoming endangered and ultimately extinct, and with the ever-changing landscape of our planet, species need help more than ever. Infrastructure is popping up around us all the time; new offices, homes, shops, and roads, are all tailored to our ever-growing needs. This very often comes at the detriment of species’ habitats, leading to displacement of populations and a loss of resources.
The Rewild London Fund is promoting areas in close relation to SINCs around London, including Bow. In this area, there are, luckily enough, five different SINCs surrounding it.
You may be wondering what a SINC is – it is a ‘Site of Importance for Nature Conservation’, and they are thought to add great value to a range of species and ecosystems. Victoria Park, Mile End Park, Hertford Union Canal, The Greenway, and Regent’s Canal, are all SINCs around Bow, and with our help, we hope to ease the troubles for many species by creating green access routes.
Not only are we aiming to promote safer, more diverse areas for plants, insects and animals, but we also want to connect our residents with these green spaces. Spending time outdoors is so good for individuals’ mental health, with estimated showing just 20 minutes spent outside can drastically boost mental health and overall wellbeing.
Events to reconnect with nature this summer
Our Estate Services and Sustainability team will be holding a series of fun and informative events throughout the summer, and we would love to see our residents, and the public in attendance.
We want to hear what nature means to those in the community to teach you some handy skills, getting you back outside to enjoy the nature.
You can view more information on this overall project and other works going on around London via the London Wildlife Trust website.
Explore how we are creating solutions that will not only help protect the planet for future generations but for the here and now, including improving energy efficiency in our homes and cultivating nature in our outdoor spaces.
