Transport for London (TfL) announced last week that it has expanded its wildflower verges over the past year, covering an area as large as 18 football pitches. In an effort to enhance biodiversity across the capital, TfL has grown the network by 130,000 square metres.
This marks a 50% year-on-year increase and means TfL now manages a total of 390,000 square metres of wildflower verges. These encourage pollinators like bees and butterflies to thrive, and can also result in a higher amount of carbon being stored in the surrounding soil.
The transport organisation says it is on track to hit its target of 520,000 square metres of wildflower verges along its road network by 2026, a goal set out two years earlier.
Examples of the new green corridors include a stretch by the A1 in Barnet, a section on the A30 near Heathrow, and alongside a woodland near the A312 in Hounslow. Some spaces are also accessible to the public to enjoy as green spaces, such as the Redbridge Roundabout site.
Mete Coban, Deputy Mayor for the Environment, welcomed the progress, saying: “I’m delighted that TfL has expanded London’s wildflower verges by an impressive 50% since last year, boosting biodiversity and bringing much-needed green space across the capital for wildlife to thrive.
“This is a huge milestone and I’m proud to be working with our partners to engage Londoners in our efforts to rewild local areas, including giving away 12,000 packets of wildflower seeds to Londoners today for London Climate Action Week as we work to build a better, greener city for everyone.”
Lilli Matson, TfL’s Chief Safety, Health and Environment Officer, highlighted the wider benefits of the project: “We have a significant opportunity, working with local stakeholders, to find new ways to create space for nature, plants, wildlife and insects to thrive, given that we are responsible for the road verges, central reservations, and green space on roundabouts on 580km of the capital’s road network.”
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