Transport for London (TfL) has added a further 130,000m2 of wildflower verges to its estate since last year and said it is ‘on track’ to reach a total of 520,000m2 by 2026.
The additional space – the equivalent of 18 football pitches – represents a 50% increase in wildflower verges over the past financial year, bringing the total space dedicated to these verges to 390,000m2.
Examples of the new sites can be found alongside the A1 in Barnet (1,700m2), on a central reserve on the A30 near Heathrow (2,900m2) and on a large verge that backs onto woodland along the A312 in Hounslow (2,600m2).
Some sites, such as the Redbridge Roundabout, are also publicly accessible.
Deputy mayor for the environment, Mete Coban, said: ‘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.
Lilli Matson, chief safety, health and environment officer at TfL, added: '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.’
