Biodiversity and nature conservation

Local Nature Recovery Plan

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.

Our Local Nature Recovery Plan (PDF 4.7mb) guides this work.

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

Sites of importance 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’.

Bees and beekeeping

There are a number of beehives in Hackney including at Community Tree Nursery and Forest Garden on Hackney Marshes, Hackney City Farm and St Mary’s Secret Garden.

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.

 

Improving biodiversity advice

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.

Monitoring biodiversity

We work closely with Greenspace Information for Greater London (GiGL) to record and monitor biodiversity in our borough.

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.

Page updated on: 5 March 2024

Parks and Green Spaces

Address

Neighbourhoods and Housing Directorate
Hackney Service Centre
1 Hillman Street
E8 1DY

Telephone

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  • Wednesday – 9am to 4pm (telephone)