Our parks are home to many important plants and animals including bats, house sparrows and Britain’s rarest native tree, the black poplar. All these species are recognised and work is being done across London to help protect them.
The Local Nature Recovery Plan has Hackney’s Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs) as the foundation of a local nature recovery network.
Hackney is divided into five nature recovery areas. Each identifies opportunities for projects and interventions that can help make ecological connections that protect, add to, and link the SINC network. We can do this through methods such as:
making enhancements to parks
wildlife-friendly planting in amenity green-spaces
urban greening in new developments
Importance of biodiversity
In an urban area such as Hackney, biodiversity plays a vital role in cleaning our air, reducing the effect of hot temperatures in summer and helping to control water run-off, reducing flooding. These benefits to people are called ecosystem services.
It has been shown that contact with the natural environment can improve people’s wellbeing and reduce stress.
Urban meadows biodiversity
Meadows are becoming more common in Hackney’s parks.
Meadows can take different forms from the highly colourful pictorial meadow, in London Fields to the more subtle grass meadow in South Millfields.
All types of meadow provide a better habitat for insects compared to amenity grassland and can provide a food source for bees and butterflies.
Grass meadows are created by simply reducing how often the grass is cut, allowing it to grow tall, flower and seed.
Wildflower meadows consist of British wildflower species such as the corncockle, poppy or oxeye daisy and a mix of grasses.
Pictorial meadows will commonly include British wildflowers. It will also include non-native species, which can give an impressive display or extend the flowering period of the meadow. Pictorial meadows commonly flower from May to October.
Meadows are sown in either the spring or autumn. They can include annual and perennial species. This combination ensures a great splash of colour and that the meadow blooms year after year.
They’re cut in the autumn and the cuttings removed and composted. This helps to lower the soil’s fertility. This provides better growing conditions for the meadow. In general they prefer less fertile, well-drained soil.
Sites of importance for nature conservation (SINCs) are areas designated for their importance for wildlife. The designation is also referred to as ‘non-statutory wildlife site’ or ‘local site’.
List of important sites for nature conservation
Sites of importance for nature conservation (SINCs) are areas designated for their importance for wildlife. The designation is also referred to as ‘non-statutory wildlife site’ or ‘local site’.
In London, there are 3 grades of SINC:
sites of metropolitan importance – important at a London-wide scale, sites which contain the best examples of London’s habitats, have particularly rare species or have particular significance in heavily built-up areas
sites of borough importance – important on a borough perspective, divided into two grades on the basis of their quality
sites of local importance – of particular value to people nearby, such as residents or schools
There are 24 SINCs in Hackney including a number of public parks, wetlands and waterways and woodlands.
As well as honeybees, Hackney is home to a number of species of solitary bees and bumblebees, some of which are nationally rare. The brown-banded carder bee (Bombus humilis) is a UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) priority species and has been recorded in Hackney. The hairy-footed flower bee (Anthophora plumipes) is a priority species in the Hackney BAP.
How to help bees
The best way to help bees is to make sure there are places for them to feed and shelter. Gardens and parks in urban areas can provide good sources of nectar and pollen.
You can find out more about how to help bees in the British Beekeepers Association’s list of pollen and nectar-rich plants.
We’re also leaving an increasing number of areas of longer grass to provide a source of food for insects such as bees.
If you would like to learn more about bees, see the presentation that Russell Miller produced for a biodiversity talk in Hackney, see presentation (PDF 13mb)
Local contacts
If you’d like to find out more about bees and beekeeping, contact the following organisations:
A number of advice notes have been produced to provide information about managing green spaces for wildlife and following best practice in planning, development and project management.
Advice for site managers and community groups
Hackney Biodiversity Partnership provides advice on how to create and manage areas for wildlife.
Information about the planning system in Hackney is available in planning policies.
For information about biodiversity measures that can be incorporated into new developments or regeneration projects, and general principles on the features we expect to see in development applications, see the Hackney advice note: biodiversity and the built environment (PDF 4mb).
To ensure our projects follow best practice guidelines we’ve produced a checklist, including information about the sorts of projects that need species or habitat surveys, and providing sources for further advice.
More than half of Hackney’s households rent from social landlords or registered providers, and a large number of these residents live in estates. Examples of estates where residents have worked with local organisations to create and manage their local green space:
The London Wildlife Trust project is working with residents of Hackney estates to engage people in the improvement of their local green spaces and develop their conservation skills
The Clapton Park tenant management organisation has chosen to use the Grass Roof Company as their maintenance contractor. The estate is often referred to as the ‘poppy estate’ because of the number of wild flowers
Advice for residents with private gardens
Gardens provide an important network of green space across Hackney, however certain areas in the borough, such as Shoreditch and Dalston, have considerably fewer private gardens than elsewhere.
We need to understand what species and habitats we have in order to make informed decisions about how to manage our environment. Knowing what wildlife shares our borough gives us the knowledge to:
manage parks and open spaces for specific habitats and species
consider biodiversity in planning policy and responses
target projects towards the species and habitats that most need our help
Local wildlife records also contribute to our understanding of how biodiversity is changing over time at both the regional and national scale.
The North Marsh Habitats Project began with a plan to enhance habitat around the new Hackney Marshes Pavilion. Local ecologist Russell Miller devised a scheme to add flower rich pollinator gardens and wet scrapes for other invertebrates.
Funded by the Greater London Authority’s Grow Back Greener Fund and Hackney Council, the project built two low nutrient substrate gardens designed by renowned wildlife gardener John Little. One demonstration garden sits at the south end of the pavilion whilst the other sits in a minibus parking bay in the car park, illustrating what can be done in a parking bay. Both feature a mix of recycled aggregates and sand as growing and nesting media for plants and pollinators.
A hoggin bee path was added next to the nearby cricket nets as another nesting substrate for ground nesting bees. To the east of the pavilion a wet scrape was created to provide wet, decaying logs for deadwood invertebrates which there are several rare flies on the marshes. Whitethroats have started feeding here, also utilising the nearby scrub.
Hedgehog homes and log piles add refugia for small mammals and amphibians to hibernate or hide from cats and dogs of which there are far too many on the marshes. To the north two more wet scrapes feed a new wildlife pond which in less than a year is already home to newts and damselflies with weasels, hedgehogs and a hobby all seen close by.
East of the pond one hectare of amenity sports grass has been added to the existing Metropolitan Site of Importance for Nature Conservation with 400 native trees planted in 4 ‘stepping stone’ copses creating a wider wildlife corridor around North Marsh. More loggeries add invertebrate, wood mouse and hedgehog homes and an experimental pollinator garden defines the gateway to Friends Bridge.
The Hackney Buzzline
The Hackney Buzzline presents a unique opportunity to engage residents in nature conservation. This will be key to Hackney’s Local Nature Recovery Plan. It will create a legacy of environmental care in the borough. The Hackney Buzzline aims to improve green infrastructure, enhancing residents’ quality of life and well-being. It creates opportunities for recreation, relaxation, and community interaction, fostering a stronger sense of neighbourhood belonging and pride.
We will create a flower-rich green corridor. It will link four parks (Mabley Green, Daubeney Fields, Millfields Park and Hackney Downs). The corridor will support, protect, and boost local bee and butterfly populations. We want to help residents enjoy the beauty of bees and butterflies, explore their local green spaces, become more active and connect with nature.
Grow Back Greener Fund 2022
The Grow Back Greener Fund 2022 has awarded £2m to 56 community projects across London to:
plant trees to provide shade
create and enhance green space
increase climate resilience
In partnership with London Fields User Group, we received some money from the Grow Back Greener Fund to improve the biodiversity offer across two areas of London Fields.
The project has significantly improved biodiversity and opportunities for ecology education, research, and volunteering.
In the North East area of the park, we improved a woodland area currently managed for wildlife and used as a green classroom. We used the grant to:
enhance hedging
plant more to support biodiversity
create habitats for various wildlife
maximize the site’s usage as a green classroom
In the South West area, we transformed an under-utilized space to boost biodiversity. We created various habitats such as:
wetland
meadow
woodland
wood-edge
post-industrial areas
We added planting around the edges to increase habitat and reduce disturbance.
A path into the area allows access and encourages use by young people as an ecology teaching resource. This is a significant gain for biodiversity since the park currently lacks a permanent habitat or water source.
Old Lea improvement projects
Old River Lea Restoration Project
Protected on both banks by Metropolitan Open Land, the Old Lea is the wildest, most natural area in Hackney.
There are few buildings in sight meaning the river allows those who wander it to feel away in the countryside. This is one of the reasons for the river’s popularity which unfortunately has caused:
accelerated bank compaction and erosion
the disturbance and loss of wildlife
locally sourced litter and pollution – especially since the precautions needed to stop the spread of Covid understandably encouraged us to explore and enjoy our local areas more
This is in addition to the problems affecting the water quality of our waterways right across the UK which are currently receiving more attention – at least in the media.
This project, created and delivered by the Wildlife Gardeners of Haggerston and colleagues in partnership with the London Borough of Hackney, aims to bring the Old Lea back to health and provide resilience for the future.
Local improvements cannot change what happens upstream, but we are able to do a huge amount in Hackney and this project will deliver a significant part of Hackney’s new Local Nature Recovery Plan. The Greater London Council, through Groundwork, is providing funding as part of Rewild London for these improvements and the London Wildlife Trust is giving support.
The project includes:
improving existing and adding new places for wildlife to feel safe within
the removal of problematic plants such as Himalayan Balsam which damage the river banks and do little for wildlife
beneficial plants such as Common Reed and Purple Loosestrife are being planted to provide places for wildlife to live and find sanctuary and food for their full-lifecycle
fallen trees are being secured in the river to add natural complexity to the flow and aid aquatic wildlife as well as provide refuge for birds which hunt along the river
monthly monitoring of specific aquatic creatures whose presence tells us much about the quality of the river water – this project will be one of the first in South-East England to use the Urban Riverfly monitoring method
Lasting one year, the works will improve the river and help our wildlife and make this wildest area in Hackney even more interesting and enchanting to wander through and be able to feel close to Nature.
Grow Back Greener Project - Climate Adaptation And Water Strand
The project on the Old Lea will support the priorities of the Grow Back Greener Fund and in particular the Climate Adaptation and Water Strand theme by improving water quality, enhancing biodiversity and engaging local volunteers through their participation in these changes.
Poor water quality due to low dissolved oxygen levels, chemical pollution of various types and sources, as well as litter is a particular problem on the Lower Lea and the biodiversity that does live in this waterway and along its banks is under threat on a number of fronts: poor water quality, INNS and extractive pursuits. The various interventions that comprise the project will help address all these issues.
This project will provide opportunities for local volunteers to play an active part in making the area greener and develop new skills through installing the various physical interventions and enhancements.
This project will leave a positive legacy by providing water filtration and raising dissolved oxygen levels as well as increasing the number and variety of aquatic and terrestrial habitat features and removing INNS.