Heavy horses help rewild Wandsworth

Wandsworth's King George's Park continues to benefit from a biodiversity boost as part of the ambitious Rewild London project, a city-wide initiative aimed at enhancing biodiversity and reconnecting Londoners with nature.

Enable, the not-for-profit organisation responsible for managing Wandsworth's green spaces on behalf of Wandsworth Borough Council, was awarded funding in 2022 to implement an exciting rewilding effort in partnership with the London Wildlife Trust and with support from the Mayor of London.

The Rewild London scheme is a city-wide initiative that has granted £600,000 to 19 different projects across London, each focused on rewilding urban spaces and promoting the recovery of nature. Since the Rewild London scheme began it has enhanced and connected 54 of London's Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs), creating vital habitats where wildlife can thrive.

Cabinet member for Environment, Judi Gasser said: "The rewilding efforts in King George's Park have focused on the creation of wildflower meadows and the development of biodiversity-rich woodlands. These new habitats will act as crucial corridors for pollinators, such as wild bees and butterflies. The project is closely aligned with Wandsworth Council's Biodiversity Strategy, which outlines the importance of increasing the connectivity of natural spaces across the borough.

"We are delighted to be working alongside our partners at Enable to deliver such an important project for our residents."

To enhance the existing grasslands at both Wandsworth Park, and King George's Park, traditional techniques are being used, including the use of the heavy horses, to pull mowers and harrows. This method not only reduces the nutrient levels in the soil, which is essential for establishing wildflower meadows, but also has a low impact on flora and a low carbon footprint. The horses' hooves create small gaps in the grass, helping wildflower seeds to take root more effectively. This autumn will see the creation of stag beetle loggeries in the park's woodland areas to enhance the habitats further

Mick Green, Parks Biodiversity Officer at Enable said: "In addition to enhancing natural habitats, Enable is committed to fostering a deeper connection between local people, and the nature around them.

The use of heavy horses to continue the meadow creation is complemented by a series of community events under the banner 'Sustainable September,' celebrating and championing local sustainability initiatives in Wandsworth.

"The Rewild London Scheme as a whole has great potential to improve access to nature across London. The council and our partners at Enable will continue to share updates as the project progresses."

The council is committed to taking actions to maintain our parks and open spaces, continuing to plant trees as well as seeking opportunities for improvements that will benefit both the environment and our open spaces. Find out more: https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/news/campaigns/climate-change/together-on-nature/

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You can also find out more about our ambitions to become a Carbon Neutral Council by 2030, a Net Zero Borough by 2043 and how you can get involved. Read our strategy, reports and action plan to see how we tackle climate change in the borough.