Horses are being drafted in to help rewild public parks in south London.
As part of the rewilding initiative in Wandsworth Park and King George’s Park in south London, heavy horses will pull mowers and harrows for seedlings.
Wandsworth Council said this would not only reduce the nutrient levels in the soil, which is essential for establishing wildflower meadows, but that the horses’ hooves create small gaps in the grass, helping wildflower seeds to take root more effectively.
This autumn will also see the creation of stag beetle loggeries in the parks’ woodland areas to enhance the habitats further.
The draught horses, from Richmond working horses group Operation Centaur, took on the same role last year and in 2022 to boost wildflower growth.
Members of the public will be able to see them in action from 10am on Tuesday at King George’s Park, said the council.
The scheme is being supported by Rewild London, a city-wide scheme which has granted £600,000 to 19 different projects across London, each focused on rewilding urban spaces and promoting the recovery of nature.
Cabinet member for Environment, Judi Gasser said: “The rewilding efforts in King George’s Park have focused on the creation of wildflower meadows and the development of biodiversity-rich woodlands.
“These new habitats will act as crucial corridors for pollinators, such as wild bees and butterflies.
“We are delighted to be working alongside our partners at Enable to deliver such an important project for our residents.”
Mick Green, Parks Biodiversity Officer at Enable, which runs the borough’s parks, said: “The use of heavy horses to continue the meadow creation is complemented by a series of community events under the banner ‘Sustainable September,’ celebrating and championing local sustainability initiatives in Wandsworth.
“The Rewild London Scheme as a whole has great potential to improve access to nature across London.”
