Highgate Society supports local environmental iniatives

Here in north London, the Highgate Society is supporting many local environmental initiatives that are taking action to create a cleaner, greener, more liveable city with a raft of projects that you can help to support.

Firstly, local groups, led by the Heath & Hampstead Society, have proposed a new Camden Nature Corridor covering a wide swathe of land running from the southern tip of Hampstead Heath to Talacre Gardens in Kentish Town.

This corridor would join up several nature ‘stepping stones’ with railway sidings and a number of proposed large developments.

If adopted by Camden Council into their new local plan, this will provide a haven for wildlife over the next few years, increasing the population of birds, plants, insects and small mammals, which in turn will help with air pollution, carbon reduction and our mental wellbeing.

To support the proposal, contact your local councillor or for more information contact us.

Jeska Harrington urges residents to show their support for local environmental initiatives (Image: Jeska Harrington)

Second, plans are afoot for the creation of two hedgehog corridors to allow the population of hedgehogs on the Heath to spread eastwards to Waterlow Park and Highgate Cemetery.

Heath Hands and Growing Green are taking the next phase forward in partnership with other groups. Can you help by making your garden more hedgehog-friendly?

Third, our friends at the Highgate Neighbourhood Forum have been working with local landowners in Highgate to think in a joined-up way about the environments they manage.

The HNF Biodiversity Network is building a map of wildlife corridors and stepping stones in the area and is now embarking on a citizen science project to measure wildlife – could you get involved?

Finally, the new project announced recently to create ‘Britain’s Biggest Living Garden’ in Hampstead Garden Suburb aims to take advantage of its claim to having the highest urban density of hedging in Great Britain to make the Suburb the most biodiverse area in the UK.

These initiatives are all conjured from the creative minds and enthusiasm of local volunteers. Could you be part of the movement?

If you have a garden, balcony, window box, communal gardens, or access to local green spaces you can make a real difference and together we can protect London’s biodiversity.

Contact your local community groups or the Highgate Society through our website at: highgatesociety.com and we will point you in the right direction.

• Jeska Harrington Gould is a member of the Highgate Society.