A £680,000 project to improve Jubilee Gardens on Houndsditch in the is now underway.
The gardens, one of 180 sites within the Square Mile owned and managed by the Corporation, will be transformed to create a greener, more inviting open space with improved seating and access.
15 new trees will be planted as well as shrubs and perennials to provide food and habitats for pollinators and wildlife. Log and stone piles will also be created, giving new homes to invertebrates.
These improvements will help boost the City’s biodiversity and its resilience to the impacts of climate change, along with the installation of new, sustainable drainage to reduce the risk of flooding.
Paving materials from the existing site will be re-used to help further reduce the project’s carbon footprint.
The gardens will be closed for the duration of the work which is expected to take approximately 10 months to complete.
The plans are part of the City Corporation’s ambitious Climate Action Strategy which supports the achievement of net zero carbon emissions for the whole Square Mile by 2040.
It also supports Destination City, the City Corporation’s flagship policy which sets out a vision for the Square Mile to become a world-leading leisure destination for UK and international visitors, workers, and residents to enjoy.
Chair of the Corporation’s Natural Environment Board, Caroline Haines, said:
“Jubilee Gardens will be transformed into a tranquil oasis, making it a great place to spend and enjoy time outside.
“Open spaces in the are not only hugely important for people’s health and wellbeing, they also play a vital role in increasing the Square Mile’s biodiversity and resilience against climate change.”
Chair of the Corporation’s Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee, Graham Packham, said:
“As well as providing important climate benefits, improving our public spaces will support our vision for Destination City, making the Square Mile a world-leading leisure destination that visitors from all over the world can enjoy.
“The improvements to Jubilee Gardens will provide a green and inviting space to meet friends and colleagues or enjoy some time alone in nature.”
The City Corporation manages over 11,000 acres of open space in London and southeast England, including Epping Forest, Hampstead Heath and over 180 smaller sites in the Square Mile, investing over £38m a year.
They remove around 16,000 tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere a year, equivalent to 44% of the City Corporation’s annual carbon footprint.
Notes to editors
The Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK.
FM Conway are the contractors for this scheme. Work will take place between the hours of 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday and between 9am and 2pm on Saturdays.
';
