Questions to the Mayor of London – answered at on 1 March 2022.
What recent steps have you taken to rewild North East London? I am eager to know what plans you have to distribute rewilding funds to local authorities and civil society organisations in North East London to support projects that showcase innovative or strategic approaches to improving our parks, green spaces, and biodiversity.
Since becoming Mayor, I have awarded £244,395 from my green infrastructure funding programmes to projects in Islington, £1,036,163 to projects in Hackney and £272,212 to projects in Waltham Forest to improve or create green spaces for people and wildlife. This includes innovative projects to help London adapt to climate change, such as the Wardle Street Project in Hackney, which has introduced a community orchard, a new meadow and a green wall.
I am also supporting Islington Council through officer support and £75,000 of funding from a UK Future Parks Accelerator pilot. This develops strategic approaches to maximise the role that green spaces can play in improving social cohesion, reducing health inequalities and isolation, and improving physical and mental health.
Applications for my new £600,000 “Rewild London Fund” have now closed. My officers are currently assessing the applications received and will inform applicants of the outcome of their bids shortly.