The Hackney BuzzLine
An innovative initiative aimed at improving pollinator habitats, enhancing cycling and walking routes, and engaging community-based bodies and residents in planting for bees and butterflies.
By creating a flower-rich green corridor that links four parks we seek to support, conserve and boost local bee and butterfly populations. We want to help residents enjoy the beauty of bees and butterflies, explore their local green spaces, become more active and connect with nature
The Hackney Buzzline presents a unique opportunity to engage residents in nature conservation. This will be pivotal to the success of Hackney’s new local Nature Recovery Plan and create a legacy of environmental consciousness and cooperation in the borough. In particular, the Hackney Buzzline aims to improve green infrastructure on social housing estates, enhancing residents’ quality of life and well-being. It creates opportunities for recreation, relaxation, and community interaction, fostering a stronger sense of neighbourhood belonging and pride.
Project Objectives
Enhance Biodiversity
Restore, improve and expand habitats on four local sites of importance for nature conservation - providing forage, shelter and nesting resources for pollinator communities and promoting a healthier ecosystem.
Foster Sustainable Transportation
Enhance cycling and walking routes, school streets, and low traffic neighbourhood zones (LTNs), encouraging active and eco-friendly modes of transportation.
Community Engagement
Engage communities in creating pollinator-rich meadows and flower beds in their local parks, planting pollinator gardens around parks, and providing additional pollinator habitats on streets and estates between parks - fostering a sense of ownership, environmental stewardship, and community cohesion.
Innovative Conservation Approach
Trial a new urban conservation approach, combining ecological restoration, citizen science, and biodiversity monitoring to develop best practices for future projects.
Why do we need The Hackney Buzzline?
Pollinator Peril
Habitat loss and various threats endanger pollinators. UK has lost 97% of wildflower meadows and 80% of butterfly species declined; 48 bee species are at risk or extinct.
Vital Needs
Bees and butterflies require suitable forage plants, flowers, and sheltered nesting sites in soil, vegetation, and hedges to survive.
Urban Biodiversity
Surprisingly, urban areas show higher bee diversity compared to rural regions. Private and community gardens have emerged as urban pollinator sanctuaries.
Garden Success
Study revealed that 50% of 22 butterfly species thrived in gardens between 2007 and 2020.
Shared Responsibility
Local authorities, homeowners, and residents hold key roles in safeguarding pollinators. Hackney, with over 40% green spaces, plays a crucial part.
Nature Engagement
Community gardening and physical activities connected to nature have dual benefits - enhancing human well-being and strengthening community bonds.
Be a Buzzline Partner
We invite you to partner with us in building the Hackney BuzzLine by helping to …
Design pollinator-friendly planting schemes and establish meadows and wild areas in gardens and green spaces.
Adopt herbicide free, low mow approaches to managing green spaces.
Collaborate on ‘planting for pollinators’ volunteer events, workshops and opportunities.
Plan green walls, pocket parks and other habitat creation projects.
Develop learning and species monitoring projects for children, young people and adults.
Impact of our Community Garden Project
Around 70 residents are now regularly volunteering at 10 community gardens in Hackney, East London. In 2021-22 we provided over 30 training sessions for these volunteers, helping them gain new skills, and network with other local groups and organisations.
75% of volunteers reported feeling more experienced about gardening or food growing, in their follow up surveys, compared to their baseline survey
With our support, the gardens have run a series of fun and engaging events for their local communities. These included a wild herb walk in a local park, Christmas wreath making sessions, and seed planting activities for families to take home.