Westminster Micro Project
With urban populations increasing rapidly, green spaces with high biodiversity are critical for maintaining the health of humans and wildlife.
Site Details:
- Urban micro forest at Westbourne Green Open Space
- Location: Westminster, Central London, UK
- Site Area: 2 hectares
- Habitat Type: Miyawaki micro forest
- Key Species: Hornbeam, field maple, crab apple, blackthorn, hawthorn, holly, hazel, elder
- Number of Trees: 5,675
- Project Focus: Biodiversity, reducing pollution, improve quality of life for local community
Why is this habitat under threat?
The nature in urban areas faces some of the toughest challenges from climate change, development, air and noise pollution, disease, and increasing temperatures. At the same time research is showing that urban green spaces are vital for our health and wellbeing, and for mitigating for drought and floods. The proximity of trees and high-quality green spaces has been shown to have a dramatic impact on residents, reducing depression and improving social cohesion, and London has a target to increase tree cover by 10% by 2050. Westminster City Council covers some of the poorest areas in the country, and they have developed a detailed strategy to improve green spaces to tackle these issues. Working in partnership with the council, CTF aims to harness the power of the Miyawaki planting technique to create dense, fast-growing micro forests in Westbourne Green Open Space.
Which species will benefit from the habitat restoration?
The new species will double the diversity of tree species in the park, providing resilience for both climate change and disease. The number of trees in the park will also be increased by 30%, providing increased area of habitat for insects and birds. The new native species micro forests will provide nectar and pollen for insects, and the dense planting will be ideal for nesting and winter shelter for birds. Species expected to benefit include bees, butterflies, blue and great tits, jays, blackbirds, wrens, robins, and nuthatches.
Site History
Westbourne Green Open Space is situated in the borough of Westminster and is adjacent to the A40 Westway. It has high levels of noise and air pollution and provides a buffer between the flyover and residential buildings behind. It has approximately 112 existing mature trees in total, of which 60% are estimated to be at high risk of pest and tree disease. The soil type is loam and clay texture and the shrubs are scattered with no obvious groupings. The hedges adjacent to the A40 are in poor condition, clipped very low and provide no noise or pollution buffer.
Habitat restoration details
The habitat restoration at Westbourne Green Open Space has multiple focal points, with certain micro forests designed to combat air and noise pollution, and others having a biodiversity focus. The biodiversity areas will be planted with a diverse mix of native broadleaved species, including hornbeam, field maple, blackthorn, hawthorn, holly, hazel, and elder. The pollution focal areas are along the A40 edge and include species such as elder, holly, western red cedar, and cotoneaster, all of which have been selected for their abilities to absorb air particulates and attenuate sound. All of the micro forests will be planted using the Miyawaki Method, a technique which plants saplings at high densities to accelerate tree growth. Miyawaki micro forests have higher biodiversity, grow faster, and are more effective at lowering air temperatures than traditional planting methods, and they are particularly adapted to urban environments where space is limited.
Tree diversity will be further increased by the inclusion of semi-mature, standalone trees to provide fruit for community members and wildlife. The existing hedge will be infilled and allowed to grow to a height of 1.5–1.8 m, improving biodiversity and providing an additional buffer against road noise and air pollution. Together, these new trees will establish a greener, healthier space that supports biodiversity while improving air quality and quality of life for the local community.
This project has been undertaken using a partnership between Westminster City Council, Ruth Wilmott Associates, Creating Tomorrow’s Forests, local community groups, and funding business partners. It has been an excellent vehicle for using private investment to create real ecosystem services benefits for the environment and the community.
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