Lambeth Bee Roads is Lambeth’s initiative to enhance street-side green spaces for both wildlife and people.
In less than a century since the 1930s, The UK has lost 97% of its wildflower meadows and bees, butterflies, moths and other flying insect pollinators are in decline.
Planting wildflowers to encourage pollinating insects
But the grass by our roadsides can be (and has been) transformed into an alternative vital wildlife habitat. Planting wildflower-rich roadside verges and other wildlife-friendly spaces on housing estates and parks, including meadows, hedges and rain gardens creates corridors – Bee Roads – between Lambeth’s Parks, nature reserves, railway lines, cemeteries, private gardens and flower-filled balconies, connecting up the mosaic of green spaces.
Lambeth has been working on the scheme since 2022 as part of its Climate Action Plan, in partnership with local community groups, residents and the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.
Word from the Cabinet
Cllr Rezina Chowdhury, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Sustainable Lambeth and Clean Air, said: “In the UK, 40% of the flying insects that pollinate plants are at risk of extinction. Lambeth Bee Roads are a vital part of improving our network of wildlife spaces.
“We share our residents’ commitment to tackling the climate crisis, and with volunteers from schools and homes by the roadside we have changed the soil, planted seeds and added wildflowers in more than 36,000 square metres of grassland (about as much as 140 tennis courts) to create a network of meadowland habitats for insects and other wildlife. We hope to create more environmental planting everywhere that we can.”
Green and resilient spaces
Young plants for pollinators in the wildflower garden
The project has been supported for these first two years by the Mayor of London’s Green and Resilient Spaces Fund which aims to strengthen climate resilience, increase biodiversity, improve accessibility, build green skills and help reduce health inequalities.
Once complete, Lambeth Bee Roads will have provided ten miles of green highways for bees, butterflies and other pollinators across 30 different locations.
Shirley Rodrigues, Deputy Mayor Environment and Energy, joined local school pupils, volunteers including local police, Lambeth Parks staff, and people living in neighbouring streets to help with planting up a new meadow at Rush Common.
Shirley said: “The Lambeth Bee Roads project is a brilliant example of what councils can do to improve Londoners’ quality of life, address the climate and nature emergency and enhance the public realm. The Green and Resilient Spaces Fund is just one of the many ways the Mayor is helping local authorities, community groups and organisations build a better, fairer and greener London for everyone.”
More information
- See the Lambeth Bee Roads web pages for details of where Lambeth and Lambeth residents have created wildlife-friendly stepping stones across the borough.
- Many of Lambeth’s Bee Roads have been created, or co-created, and are being maintained by community volunteers. If you’d like to get involved contact parks@lambeth.gov.uk
