Habitat creation, Hackney Marshes, London
London Borough of Hackney

Habitat creation, Hackney Marshes, London

The brief

We worked with the local authority to enhance areas of the Hackney Marshes.

Hackney Marsh is one of the largest remaining areas of common land in London. The area is a popular space for the public and includes 88 full size football pitches. Parts of Hackney Marshes are designated as of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation. The Marshes are valuable for wildlife because they provide a variety of habitats including short and longer grass meadows, waterways and river banks, trees, hedges and woodland.

The overall environmental strategy was to create new habitat areas to attract a diverse range of wildlife and visitors to the Marshes whilst maintaining the council’s commitment to increasing biodiversity in the borough.

What we did

  • Seeded two hectares of diversified grasslands
  • Planted 4000 trees and 20,000 native spring bulbs
  • Installed 30 bat boxes and 30 bird boxes
    within existing woodland
  • Installed amenity features including timber steps and benches
  • Created forest bark paths
  • Designed and installed a bird hide
  • Seeded two hectares of diversified grasslands.

Because the site was a well used public space, after we completed the work, we returned each month for a year to carry out maintenance which included replacing failed plants, tree guards and canes, and strimming vegetation.

Hackney Marshes is a large and very well used area. Knowing that many people, as well as the local wildlife, would benefit from the habitat improvements that we carried out, was enormously satisfying.
Thomson project manager, habitat creation, Hackney Marshes
Our services
Environmental consultancy services covering all ecosystems

We cover all aspects of environmental consultation – from smaller surveys through to strategic projects.

Our culture and values
Our culture and R.I.S.E. values help bind us together as a business

At Thomson, we strive to deliver a pragmatic and innovative approach to environmental compliance.

Working in partnership with our clients, our team of environmental specialists ensures objectives are met, with maximum efficiency for our clients, and minimal impact on the natural world.

Projects Habitat creation, Hackney Marshes, London