London is officially the greenest Capital in Europe, with 40% of its area being public green space .. in fact worldwide, only Singapore (47%) and Sydney (46%) beat it.
But there's space for more trees, grass, hedges and wildflowers as well as more homes. We can build living walls and roofs. One architect recently unveiled plans for a hi-rise garden in the soon to be completed Walkie Talkie tower on Fenchurch Street. Great for the building users but not great for wildlife.
Some of our green spaces are wasteland or derelict sites. These too are slowly being transformed, as more and more people see their value for flood relief, recreation, nature and soaking up pollution.
One such plot of land has lain derelict for some time, but a devoted group of volunteers has raised money and given their time, sweat and passion to transform it from an industrial wasteland into a wildlife garden.
The Crossness Engines Trust in south east London had focused on the steam engines and industrial heritage on the Victorian site they manage. That was until they could find time to consider the adjacent yard. They've tranformed it, as the following images show, charting the change from an overgrown rubbish tip with contaminated soil, right through to blooming oasis.
I'm delighted to say that RSPB London had a tiny part to play in this magnificent project. Some of the wildflowers on the site came from seeds sent out as a thank you to participants in our Cockney Sparrow Count. Other people have sown theirs in pots on balconies, grass verges, flower beds and edges of lawns. Our Giving Nature a Home webpages offers free advice and ideas but what we really want is details of what YOU'RE doing for London's wildlife. @rspblondon