The London Environment Strategy - what does it mean for beekeepers?

The Mayor has just published the draft London Environment Strategy (LES), which is open for consultation until 17 Nov.

This is an integrated strategy that covers air quality, waste, noise, climate change mitigation and energy, adapting to climate change, and “green infrastructure” to address the many challenges that London faces. The aim is to make London greener, cleaner and ready for the future, with an anticipated population of 11 million by 2050.
The part of most interest to beekeepers will be the section on green infrastructure, a term used to mean the whole network of green and blue spaces including parks, green spaces, trees, woodlands, hedges, rivers, wetlands and green roofs.
The vision is to make London the greenest global city, with more than half its area “green” by 2050 (up from 47% today). To do that, the Mayor has supported the campaign to make London a National Park City and has committed to increasing the amount of tree cover by 10%. New trees could be good news for bees and biodiversity, as long as we don’t just get London Planes!
Green infrastructure will be promoted through the planning system – to protect and better manage what London has already, and to incorporate new green infrastructure into development plans. This looks to be good news, because we know that there is a shortage of bee forage in parts of London.
The Mayor has already launched a new £9 million Greener City Fund to create and improve green spaces and encourage more tree planting in London. Grants are available now for Community Tree Planting (applications closed on 29 Sept) and for Community Green Spaces (closed 20 Oct).
The strategy also introduces the concept of natural capital accounting in what it calls a “radical new approach”. We all know that green infrastructure can improve biodiversity and ecological resilience. But it can also reduce the impacts of climate change, store carbon, improve air quality, improve water quality, promote healthier lives, reduce car dependency, and encourage more walking and cycling. These benefits are called “ecosystem services”. Natural capital describes the economic benefits of these services that the environment provides for free, and presents them in a similar way to other capital assets, like buildings. Whether this increases the amount of money available for green infrastructure remains to be seen, but it does at least re-frame the argument.
The strategy says that parks will be made more accessible, and better connected via greener streets. Buildings will become greener, with green roofs and walls, and drainage systems that allow rainwater to flow back to rivers and streams more naturally. Habitats will be protected and enhanced to ensure green space improvements serve to increase the diversity of London’s plant and animal species.
Given the limits of the Mayor’s powers, much of this will have to be achieved by influencing others and working with partners - including Boroughs, developers, London Wildlife Trust, charitable organisations (like LBKA) and communities.
So, what does this mean for LBKA and its members?
First, we need to understand the concepts of green infrastructure, ecosystem services and natural capital, and to work with these as we frame proposals and talk to potential partners.


Second, that there is an opportunity to comment on the proposals, and maybe nudge them to be a bit more bee-friendly. For example, what types of trees to plant, and where?


Third, to get behind the initiative to make London a National Park City - an opportunity to improve and increase green spaces near us.

Fourth, to encourage bee-friendly applications for Greener City Fund grants as a way of doing something practical, immediate and local.

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