What’s next for our nature recovery strategy?

To complement the strategy and aid delivery, we put together practical guidance documents, a landscape brief for new developments and a design and implementation guide (DIG) for existing spaces. The DIG sets out a multitude of green infrastructure and habitat interventions, giving high-level assessments on suitability for different spaces, opportunities for engagement and, importantly, costs to install and maintain them.

These documents have undoubtedly helped to cement our approach to boosting biodiversity, but there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Every project is different, both in terms of the space we’re working with and the views and experiences of local residents.

That’s why meaningful resident engagement is the biggest key to success. Reflecting on the past 15 months of activity has been positive, but not without hurdles. We’ve learnt a lot and we’re constantly reviewing and adjusting our approaches accordingly, ensuring we involve residents from the outset to co-design changes to their green spaces.

“This piece of work also aimed to increase people’s connection to nature, boost awareness of biodiversity and improve well-being”

Our flagship project delivered in the past year was WildE3 in Tower Hamlets, co-funded by the mayor of London’s Rewild London Fund, which recently won the Unlock Net Zero Award for Biodiversity and Nature.

Spanning 35 hectares, our north London estates team transformed more than 2,500 square metres of lawn into wildflower meadows, planted more than 400 square metres of shrubs and hedgerows, and established orchards and wildlife habitats. These interventions have measurably boosted biodiversity, improved green-space management and helped phase out pesticide use.

As well as the positive impact on the environment, this piece of work also aimed to increase people’s connection to nature, boost awareness of biodiversity and improve well-being. By working closely with local teams from Clarion Futures, our charitable foundation, the project engaged more than 350 people through 19 interactive workshops and co-design events.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing, however. The community panel we created to guide the project didn’t get as much engagement as we’d hoped, so we found other ways to involve residents in the practical aspects of the project.

We also saw the importance of clear communication around our activities, especially when it came to relaxed mowing. We tested a number of different methods, including signage and mowing paths around and through the wilder areas, showing that we were still maintaining the spaces and making clear that the longer grass was deliberate.

A follow-up survey found that 60% of residents reported increased knowledge about wildlife, 53% felt more relaxed and 40% felt more connected to nature. The project also delivered training and apprenticeships, ensuring sustainable maintenance and long-term impact.

“We’re scaling up our programme in year two: working across more areas, looking to collaborate with more of our external grounds maintenance contractors, and developing our approach to blue spaces”