Biodiversity in estates and gardens

Land around homes provides people's closest access to green space and the natural environment. About 18% of the open space in Hackney is made up of domestic gardens and green spaces in and around housing areas. These areas help to provide a network of green infrastructure throughout the borough.

Small changes to the management of gardens and estates can significantly increase the experience provided for people and create areas for wildlife. This could include:

Relaxing grassland management to allow areas to grow long
Clusters of shrubs and trees
Hedges and 'edge' habitat
Ponds and wetland features
Log piles and nesting sites

Social Housing

More than 50% of households in Hackney rent from social landlords or registered providers and a large number of these residents live in estates. A Natural Estate provides information about the importance of green spaces for the residents of social housing and provides advice on design and management of those spaces.

There are lots of examples where estate residents have worked with local organisations to create and manage their local green space. Examples include -

The London Wildlife Trust's Wild London Inclusive London Project is working with residents of Hackney estates to engage people in the improvement of their local green spaces and develop their conservation skills.
Hackney Homes and other providers are working with their tenants to create food growing areas and spaces for wildlife on estates.
The Clapton Park Tenant Management Organisation has chosen to use the Grass Roof Company as their maintenance contractor. The estate is often referred to as the 'poppy estate' because of the number of wild flowers.

Private Gardens

Gardens provide an important network of green space across Hackney, however certain areas in the borough, such as Shoreditch and Dalston, have considerably fewer private gardens than elsewhere.

Advice on how to manage gardens for wildlife is available from -