November 2021

38
Wanstead Village Directory
Ahead of a virtual meeting of Redbridge Council’s new climate
forum, Councillor Jo Blackman, Cabinet Member for Environment
and Civic Pride, outlines plans to improve greenery across the
borough. Photo by Geoff Wilkinson
The pandemic made us all realise the
importance of green space in and
around our neighbourhoods. The
benefits of green space are extensive and
well documented – for our own health and
well-being as well as for the global climate,
nature and biodiversity.
Redbridge Council has recently undertaken a
thorough review and update of its policies for
managing our green space. For the first time
ever, we have a Green Urban Landscape Policy
that puts nature and an equitable distribution
of green space at its heart.
Nearly 500 people participated in the
consultation, showing the value our
residents also put on our green space – with
environmental concerns and societal benefits
featuring prominently in the submissions.
In line with the views received, our new
strategy puts the needs of residents and
nature at its heart as it sets out how the
council will protect, manage and improve
greenery and trees.
The action plan included in the policy sets out
a number of actions the council will take over
the next three years.
We aim to plant over 2,000 new highway trees
in addition to several hundred replacement
trees, and to replant many shrubs that have
been lost from highway beds. This is in
addition to thousands more trees that will be
planted on other sites across the borough as
we seek to support the London-wide target of
a 10% increase in canopy cover by 2050.
We have trialled a number of grow zones
across the borough where we left grass verges
to grow to benefit biodiversity. Initial studies
of these sites have revealed an incredible
variety of plants and insects, with over 100
different plants identified. We therefore plan
to increase these to cover 50,000 square
metres across the borough, which equates to
25% of high grass verges.
Our new policy rightly recognises that we
need to work with residents to promote
the value of our green space, and to help us
protect, manage and enhance it.
Our tree pit adoption scheme saw over 1,300
tree pits signed up for adoption this year and
we are aiming to double this. Next year, we’ll
also be giving away free packets of wild flower
seeds to all those who adopt a tree pit. So,
make sure you adopt yours – all those who
have previously adopted them will need to
reapply again this year.
We’re grateful to all our community groups,
including the Wanstead and Woodford
Community Gardeners, Wild Wanstead and
the South Woodford urban orchard, as well
as those that maintain the green space
around our places of worship and schools.
These groups play a vital role, enhancing our
natural environment and building strong
communities. To support these and other
groups across the borough, we’re giving away
a record 50,000 bulbs this year for planting in
publicly accessible sites.
We also want to encourage people to improve
greenery on private land and we will soon
be publishing details of our winter fruit tree
giveaway.
Finally, we will be hosting an online session
on 1 December to explain more about our
plans to improve greenery and tackle climate
change and how you can get involved.
To advertise, call 020 8819 6645 or visit wnstd.com