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2010 2009 2008 2007
Veolia joins the fight to save London’s gardens
30 May 2007
With an area the size of 22 Hyde Parks already disappeared*, with London’s front gardens being paved over to create parking spaces and with back gardens being gobbled up by development every day, the campaign calls on Londoners and MPs to act quickly to stop the loss.
Current planning law affords no protection to gardens. In a high density city like London, gardens are a precious commodity - essential for the environmental health of the city. London’s wildlife and people need our gardens. That’s why this campaign asks for gardens to be removed from the planning definition of brownfield (currently targeted for development) to afford them immediate protection.
To highlight the issue, Veolia Environmental Services, the London Wildlife Trust and Royal Parks have got together to create a sustainable Wildlife Garden In A Skip that will be travelling to key events over the summer including the Camden Green Fair and Bike Fest on Sunday 3 June and Hampton Court Flower Show in July.
The garden, made up of reused materials including a used bath and shower and flowers from Chelsea Flower Show gardens, will show how to garden sustainably to save water and encourage wildlife. It will also raise awareness of the value of London’s gardens for people and wildlife.
Kevin Hurst, Veolia Environmental Services’ Marketing & Communications Director , commented: “We are delighted to be involved in this important campaign. Green spaces are becoming a premium within London, so we must all do our bit to help care for our changing environment. We hope that initiatives like Garden in a Skip will encourage Londoners to stop and think about the benefits of gardens to people and wildlife.”
Carlo Laurenzi, chief executive of London Wildlife Trust, says: “We know London needs more houses and we’re not against development per se. But the future of our city depends upon considered development that provides green space for people and wildlife across London. We must do something now to stop the piecemeal disappearance of our capital’s gardens, especially as they will help protect us against some of the likely extreme weather conditions resulting from climate change.”
Log on to www.wildlondon.org.uk to register your concern, download the campaign toolkit, find out more about the travelling Wildlife Garden in a Skip and do your bit to help save London’s gardens.
* Source: Crazy Paving – The Environmental Importance of London’s Gardens – London Assembly 2005
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Veolia Environmental Services Plc, Veolia House,
154A Pentonville Road, London N1 9PE
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Tel:
020 7812 5000 |
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