The Guardian can reveal that London will be rewilded by new nature reserves, pocket parks, and a mass community movement to restore nature to the capital.
The mayor commissioned a group of rewilding specialists. Sadiq KhanThe proposal is still in its early stages. Ben Goldsmith, a financier and environmental campaigner, was the one who came up with the idea. He is also on the board for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The plan includes a selection o core rewilding zones on the outskirts London. These could include turning parts the Thames estuary to a wetland teeming in wading bird and other wildlife and releasing Beavers in the marshesAround the capital’s periphery. To the delight and delight of locals, Beavers were released in Enfield.
These will be connected by nature corridors, which could run alongside railway lines or on brownfield sites that cross the city. Wildlife could then travel along these corridors. This would also create new opportunities. wild green spaceFor people to enjoy.
The third component of the plan involves Londoners. They will be encouraged and supported to bring nature into their gardens, window box, and even onto their roofs.
Shirley Rodrigues is the London deputy mayor of environment. She stated that there are many differences in how people access green space in London. This is not just an environmental problem, but a social justice issue. We have academics and practitioners as well as youth campaigners supporting us in this project. People are extremely excited about this project. They were so excited to see the beavers released in Enfield that they want more nature in London.
Goldsmith, who has been given the task to look at areas that could be rewilded, stated: The plan was to develop Knepp-styleRewilding projects in the vicinity of Greater London include Enfield, where an extensive nature restoration project has already begun; and the Colne valley. These areas will become London’s core natural areas with true ecological integrity.
We must create connectivity by using the threads of nature that run through the city, from north-south to east-west, and making use of the banks along the banks of railways, canals, and rivers.
The team is also considering the creation of microparks, based on those found in Japan. This will increase access to green space in nature-deprived regions and act as stepping stones to wildlife.
It may be surprising that Khan’s brother Zac ran against Goldsmith during a fractious mayoral campaign2016: Working closely with the mayor in order to make the capital wilder.
The mayor and the brothers have apparently forgotten about bygones. Goldsmith said that they became friends. Sadiq and I met at the Cop26 meeting in Glasgow. We spent some time together and had an enjoyable chat. I suggested that a London rewilding taskforce would be an exciting innovation, especially considering the progress London is making on many aspects of the climate agenda.
The mayor signed up immediately. The conservationist said that he was enthusiastic about it.
Goldsmith, who is currently rewilding Somerset’s own estate, boasts wild boar and beavers that he claims came naturally after a suitable habitat was made for them. He used his contacts in order to create a group who are bringing back wildlife to the capital.
The group includes Britain’s most famous wilder. Isabella Tree, whose Success at Knepp CastleShe has been the subject of international headlines. She has recently reintroduced the beavers to her estate and has helped to bring back species, Eveningsalesand storks to the Sussex country.
Nick Bruce-White, RSPBs, is another expert. To help with the restoration of various bird species to London and to improve the habitats in the city, the regional director for southern England at the bird charity has been called upon.
We are talking about bringing back species such as redshank and lapwing along the Thames. While there are some areas where these birds are returning, like our Rainham Marshes reserve and the Thames estuary, it is not impossible to find breeding waders in the Thames estuary. Skylarks and all that stuff. He said that we would be creating an extremely wild estuary.
The group insists that the rewilding campaign will be a community campaign. Rodrigues said that the idea of it being an urban taskforce is that it’s not just a few landowners changing their property. Instead, we are being told about how excited people get about seeing nature restored. This is important for climate resilience, health, and flood prevention, and everyone can participate.
Bruce-White agreed and stated that the new rewilded areas were open for Londoners to enjoy. He said that people should be able to connect with these areas and enjoy them. They should be amazing places to visit. If people don’t feel connected to nature, and with their landscapes, then we are all doomed. Nature only wins when people take care of it.
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