Eastwood Green, off George Lane, has become a wonderful haven for bees and butterflies as well as a pleasant space for residents. Local gardener Stephanie Derby reports. Photos by Geoff Wilkinson
Opposite the roundabout on George Lane, Eastwood Green was started by a group of volunteers in autumn 2022, with the intention of transforming an uninspiring patch of grass into a vibrant haven for people and wildlife.
What a difference a year and a half has made! The wonderful work undertaken by the South Woodford Gardeners in the local area shows how much difference green space can make to our community. However, we also wanted the area to be low maintenance. All the work here is carried out by a team of fantastic volunteers in collaboration with the South Woodford Society and funding from Redbridge Council. What we have created is essentially a meadow, which includes a diverse mix of wild flowers and bulbs. The plants were selected to be drought-tolerant, so no watering necessary. The occasional weeding is all that’s needed, but we embrace the wild aesthetic. We’re also trialling some grass alternatives, such as chamomile and thyme. These plants are an attractive, low-maintenance option for those who like a lawn but don’t have time to maintain it.
As well as creating a pleasant space for residents to enjoy, one of the main goals of the project was to increase habitat and food sources for our struggling pollinators. We have seen a catastrophic decline in flying insects, with the numbers dropping by 60% in the past 20 years! Sadly, Britain is one of the most nature-depleted countries on the planet. Some of the reasons for the decline are habitat loss, food shortage and pesticide use. It is estimated that 84% of EU crops rely on insect pollination. If this continues, we may not have enough pollinators for all the crops we need, which is a scary prospect.
The good news is we can change this. We all have the power to help reverse this worrying trend. Research shows that London gardens take up 24% of the land cover in the capital. With more areas being developed and habitats destroyed, our gardens are vital for wildlife. Pollinators use our gardens as ‘green corridors’ to move between their nests and feeding sites. Some species, such as certain solitary bees, only travel as little as 100 metres, so it is crucial for them to have nectar sources close by. As a professional gardener and designer, my top tips for a wildlife-friendly garden would be: reduce hard landscaping; avoid artificial grass; introduce pollinator-friendly plants; and stop the use of pesticides. There are many more I could include, were it not for my word limit!
Our little project at Eastwood Green is showcasing the difference a few plants can make as we’ve seen huge increases in pollinator numbers over the past year. We’ve now installed benches, so I would encourage anyone to take a rest there and observe all the bees, butterflies and hoverflies that are enjoying the flowers we’ve provided for them.
To help with Eastwood Green gardening, email e18society@gmail.com
For more information on gardening and wildlife, follow Stephanie on Instagram @stephanietaraderby
