Previous green space and tree programmes
Find out about programmes to improve London's green spaces and plant more trees completed before May 2016.
Our current programmes include Grow Back Greener - others are described on trees and woodlands and parks and green spaces.
Big Green Fund
Running from 2013-16, our Big Green Fund gave £3m to improve 11 areas of London. It created high quality open spaces that connected town centres, public transport hubs, employment and residential areas with parks, open spaces and rivers.
The fund contributed directly to the delivery of the All London Green Grid.
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The Duke’s River Link (Richmond, Hounslow) improved the social, historical and environmental value of the Duke of Northumberland’s River, creating a recreational route for local people and a green corridor for wildlife
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Firs Farm Wetlands (Enfield) developed a new wetland habitat capable of storing 30,000m3 of flood water, reducing risk to more than 100 residential properties and the A10. The project also restored 500m of river to the park
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Riding the Roding (Redbridge) created a new riverside cycle path between Wanstead Park Road Recreation Ground and Redbridge Roundabout, making riverside space accessible to walkers, cyclists and less able people
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Stanmore Marsh Restoration Scheme (Harrow) revitalised underused wetland and green space, creating new habitat and helping to prevent flooding by creating a 3,000m2 natural water storage area
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Thamesmead Thames Path Transformation (Greenwich) created a safe and appealing walking and cycling route between Thamesmead and Woolwich, offering fantastic views of the river
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The Wetlands to Wetlands Greenway (Hackney) is a clearly-signed, greener route between the new Woodberry Wetlands and Walthamstow Wetlands wildlife reserves and nearby transport hubs
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Access to Wandle Park (Croydon) improved walking and cycling facilities to create better access between Croydon town centre and the newly transformed Wandle Park
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Walthamstow Wetlands (Waltham Forest, Haringey, Hackney) supported the creation of a cycle route through a newly opened nature reserve, the largest urban wetland in Europe
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Poulter Park and Watermeads enhancements (Sutton/Merton) helped Wandle Valley Regional Park emerge and contributed to making the Wandle London's cleanest river
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Thames Chase Green Destinations (Barking & Dagenham, Havering) has made spaces such as the Dagenham Corridor and Ingrebourne Valley more accessible by bike and on foot
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The Lesnes to Crossness project (Bexley) created a new green corridor linking the history of Lesnes Abbey with the Crossness Pumping Station in Thamesmead. Watch a time-lapse of the build.
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Seeds of Change (Ealing, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Richmond) supported and trained local people to improve and manage spaces along the river corridors in the Colne Valley Regional Park and the Crane Valley Partnership
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Lea River Park (Tower Hamlets, Newham) supported the Olympic legacy by helping to regenerate the Lower Lea, connecting the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to the River Thames and surrounding neighbourhoods
Pocket Parks
Pocket Parks ran from 2013-15, providing £2m to create more than 100 parks across 26 London boroughs.
Pocket parks are small areas of inviting public space with trees and greenery for all people to enjoy, making London friendlier, greener and more resilient.
Help a London Park
Help a London Park ran from 2008-12, with £6m going to improve 11 parks across the city, making them cleaner, safer, greener and better places to visit and enjoy.
Following a public vote, Burgess Park in Southwark was awarded £2m to support a major transformation, with an additional ten parks awarded £400,000 each.
Help a London Park funded improvements in the following parks:
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Avery Hill Park (Greenwich)
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Brent River Park (Ealing)
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Burgess Park (Southwark)
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Crane Valley Park (Richmond, Hounslow)
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Dollis Valley Greenwalk (Barnet)
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Fairlop Waters (Redbridge)
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Little Wormwood Scrubs (Kensington & Chelsea)
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Lordship Recreation Ground (Haringey)
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Mayesbrook Park (Barking & Dagenham)
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Parish Wood Park (Bexley)
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Wandle Park (Croydon)
For the Love of Trees
From 2015-16 ‘For the Love of Trees – London’ highlighted the value of London’s urban forest by helping to plant up to 40,000 trees. The programme was supported by Unilever and done in partnership with several organisations including Trees for Cities and the Woodland Trust.
In the winter of 2015-16 we worked with Trees for Cities to plant 20,000 trees in King George’s Field, Ealing, creating a new urban woodland.
Working with the Woodland Trust, we made up to 20,000 free trees available for London schools. Find out about our current tree packs programme.
London Tree and Woodland Community Grant Scheme
From 2012-16, the London Tree and Woodland Community Grant Scheme offered small grants of £2,000 to £10,000. It supported 81 projects that promoted or protected trees and woodlands, and engaged local communities.
These projects:
- improved access to woodlands
- planted urban orchards
- planted trees in disused spaces on housing estates and in school grounds
- raised awareness of the importance of trees in London
Mayor's Street Tree planting programmes
The Mayor's Street Tree planting programmes planted more than 20,000 street trees across London from 2008-15.
Run in partnership with the Forestry Commission and Groundwork, the programmes aimed to ensure that London keeps and enhances its identity as one of the greenest and leafiest world cities, and to create partnerships to plant and care for street trees.
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