Sowing the seeds of a greener future in Newham.
As we head for Winter - Newham’s Parks Service has been throwing itself into action for Spring – creating a seven kilometre long Pollinator Trail all along the Greenway.
The trail, which will feature wildflower verges, is being prepared as part of one of the Council’s largest projects to improve the borough’s green spaces.
The borders along the Greenway, which have just been sowed, will create a thriving environment for the bees, butterflies, moths and other insects whose role as pollinators is so important to the natural environment. It’s hoped the rewilding project will also will also attract other wildlife to the area.
The Greenway Pollinator Trail is being created with £50,000 of funding from The Mayor of London’s Rewild London Fund.
The Greenway is a seven kilometre traffic-free pedestrian and cycle route which forms a green corridor across the borough.
Cllr James Asser, Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainable Transport said: "This is a brilliant project and I am delighted that the work underway now will produce a fabulous new habitat for wildlife, as well as creating something of beauty for residents to enjoy; and we are grateful for the funding from the Mayor of London. This is a very well used and popular space and I look forward to Spring when the Greenway will burst into bloom!
“Taking this approach is another important part of our commitment to deliver a greener more sustainable Newham. This project will help enhance biodiversity and preserve and improve our green spaces – all of which can positively impact on health and wellbeing, foster a sustainable economy, and help address climate change.”
Matt Ponting, London National Park City Rangers said: “The Greenway is well-used but it has always been quite baron with little wildlife, this project will change that and bring life back to one of the boroughs most significant public spaces.”
Between now and the Spring the Parks team will be working closely with Big City Butterflies and local volunteers from London National Park City Rangers, to develop opportunities for schools and the local community to get involved in planting feature areas, creating artwork and learning about the importance of biodiversity and the environment.
QR codes, linking to educational resources, will be posted along the route to help enhance the experience for visitors of all ages.
A video explaining the project has been produced and can be viewed here: Pollinator Trail September 2022 - YouTube.