21 projects awarded share of Rewild London Fund

The Mayor of London has announced 21 projects have been awarded a share of £1 million in Rewild London funding.

The aim is to improve the environment and make the capital more resilient to climate change.

The successful projects include encouraging amphibians back to Archbishops Park, boosting beavers’ habitat in Enfield and transforming a neglected Victorian pond into a wildlife oasis.

The funding is intended to improve the condition of 40 Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs) in London.

So far, the Mayor has invested over £2.4 million in rewinding London. This includes £750,000 from Amazon’s Right Now Climate Fund.

The fund will have helped to create or restore over 350 hectares of wildlife habitat - the equivalent of nearly 490 football pitches.

The Enfield Beaver Project will see Enfield Council upgrade the current beaver project at Forty Hall alongside project partner Capel Manor. The enclosure will be expanded which will lead to habitat improvement in the short-term.

Lambeth Council will upgrade the habitat across Archbishops Park, Waterloo with a focus on frogs and toads. Working with Archbishops Park Community Trust they will create; a new marsh garden adjoining an existing pond, 70 metres square of new wildflower planting, minibeast towers to provide a habitat for a variety of insects, woodland walk underplanting, and a long ditch to support hibernating reptiles and amphibians during winter months

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “This new rewilding funding will support the restoration of some amazing spaces in the capital, enabling Londoners to benefit from nature on their doorstep and help us to combat the impacts of climate change.

“I believe that all Londoners should be able to enjoy green spaces and that access to nature is a social justice issue. So I’m doing all I can to ensure that Londoners can enjoy wildlife wherever they are in the city.  

“Once again we have worked very closely with community groups and organisations across London to find out what support they need rewild the city. By bringing back beavers, restoring river banks and proving spaces for wildlife to thrive, we are making London a greener and cleaner city for everyone whilst also making the capital more resilient to the effects of climate change. This is one important way we are building a better London for all."

Emily Fox, nature recovery programmes manager at London Wildlife Trust said: “We are excited to be supporting the third round of the Rewild London Fund, which will support 21 projects, including preparing for grazing at Tolworth Court Farm and heathland restoration at Stanmore Common.   

“In the Trust’s new role as delivery partner for the London Rewilding Action Group, we will bring together a range of stakeholders to explore the development of large-scale rewilding projects in London. Both provide inspiring opportunities to work collaboratively towards nature’s recovery across the capital and show a step change towards a wilder city.”