London Environment Strategy consultation

It is incredulous that urban agriculture and food growing have been excluded from the strategy. Edible landscaping, small food production, food growing, food forests, etc in urban and peri urban areas can contribute to the greening of London, improve biodiversity, help to mitigate climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide infrastructure for storm water management, grey water recycling; in addition to increasing the food security of Londoners.

Whilst I whole-heartedly support the idea of a National Park City and increasing the amount of green space in London, it seems that species for which the buildings themselves are their habitat are being omitted from this process. In particular swifts, house sparrows, and bats, and I'm sure there are others too. Swifts have already experienced a 50% drop in numbers in 20years in the UK, and are extinct in many parts of London now, mostly due to loss of nest sites due to insensitive renovation and refurbishment. House sparrows are red-listed by RSPB and others due to their drastic decline in numbers. Measures to protect swifts in particular are straightforward: integrated swifts bricks in new build and extensions are cheap, easy to install, and maintenance free. Some Councils are specifying them in planning conditions already but this is not consistent at all and requires constant pressure - it would be so much more effective if there were a London-wide policy or at least guidance on it. I would also like to see ecological surveys required and implemented in key areas to protect existing populations, but that's more contentious and would probably be a future step following the more straitforward promotion of swifts bricks and other integrated solutions.

Having seen the awful scenes in Sheffield where street trees are being cut down across the city (&not replaced) because of a poor pavement maintenance contract. I would wish a system to be put in place where if a street tree is removed councils are obliged to replace it with two tree and within in a minimum of 6 months from date of removal. One a direct replacement the other can be elsewhere in the borough.

All to often trees are removed and not replaced.

Open space should be provide on the basis of the national playing fields the strategy implies that you will use exiting open space in a city who,s population is growing and the densities are increasing so therefore by definition all London's will be in a worse position over the years. The startegy and funding should be available for new parks and green open space and not a situation that implies improvement there will be none. The idea of making London a Nation Park is a good one providing all green open spaces are the protected. Not sure your strategy is really robust Mr Mayor.

This is an excellent idea but I haven't found much in the strategy about food growing and it's importance in relation to biodiversity, skills, mental health and food production. I'd like to see a food growing space in every London park, dedicated to teaching the community about food, where it comes from, how it affects health. This is an opportunity to bring communities together, learn new skills and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards. And the Mayor should consider allocating funding so that every school in the Capital has a green space for outdoor learning at the very least or an allotment space at school where children can learn about growing food for health and happiness.

London should PROTECT mature tree, rather than replacing them with young saplings that are "trees" just in the name. Don't trim/cut them too aggressively, because they provide flood defence, noise reduction, air improvement and wildlife habitat.

Also, London should provide more infrastructure for insects (bee homes, wood piles etc.) and restrict private/commercial use of insecticide/herbicide. In the world we live in, cities became the only refuge for insects, we should start learning to appreciate them.

I would invite the Mayor to visit two green projects in London EC1. The first is the Barbican Wildlife Garden in Fann Street, run by volunteers and a glowing example of how inner cities can accommodate a small slice of raw countryside. The second is the Golden Baggers food-growing project on the nearby Golden Lane Estate. Here, a disused nursery playground has been converted into a multi award-winning allotment featuring 42 growing units for local residents (price £20 a year). It not only places an oasis of green in a urban concrete setting, it adds biodiversity and is a focus for social cohesion.

Increase access to tap water via public drinking water points to reduce plastic bottle waste, ban single use coffee cups.
Green spaces should be more than ornamental plants in concrete planters - all green spaces should have a focus on wildlife habitat and food growing spaces. Where the local community is already involved in creating such spaces, support and protect them.
Regulate to ensure the use of food that would otherwise go to waste; support local food producers and services that reuse and recycle, commit to urban farms and composting initiatives.
All suppliers and services contracted by GLA and TFL to meet environmental standards set out in this strategy. TFL advertisers should also meet these criteria eg food advertised should meet health standards.
More of a focus on food supply and security - supporting urban farms, food producers, producers, suppliers and distributors must meet sustainability standards.

all developments must be made to include energy saving measure plus green roofs, wall, and grounds at least 50% of the development.
vehicles should be parked underground or at ground level hidden by the building as at 9 elms sainsburys. flood mitigation should be buy installing permeable surfaces plus sustainable drainage systems. These measures will help to improve air quality thus the health and well being for the population. Our precious green spaces must the protected and safeguarded

Some ideas:
- Residents should be encouraged not to pave over their front gardens. Paving leads to increased flooding, and a lack of wildflowers / habitats for smaller animals. With 8m+ residents, transforming just a fraction of these outdoor spaces could have a huge impact
- Wildflower gardens added to London’s parks. There is a good example of this near me in Ruskin Park, and on a piece of formerly ‘waste’ ground by Dog Kennel Hill Sainsbury’s
- All new developments should have mandatory green space that needs to be maintained – whether that’s outside space on the ground, or green roofs
- We have an enormous amount of ‘waste’ land in London either side of every single overground railway line. Most of these are taken over by buddleia in the summer, but we could easily transform these areas to host more wildflowers. Wildflower seed is cheap to buy, and lots of varieties of flowers are self-seeding, so could lead to greater biodiversity across the capital for future years. These areas are also relatively undisturbed, so are good for encouraging wildlife
- Better use of food waste. Soil erosion is another problem that we face – so better use of the enormous amount of discarded fruit and vegetables London produces could see a huge amount of compost sent to farms outside of London

Agree with previous comments regarding the social, health and environmental benefits of increaesd and enhanced green spaces. These advantages also leading to economic benefits associated with healthier and happier people. I agree that new developments need to made greener (giving environmental benefits), but also essentially that these development spaces are freely accesible to the general population not just private gardens, or greened roof top areas. Planning permissions right at the start of a development need to be state such requirements.
Also I think, as a few other contributors have mentioned, it isn't just a matter of having a green space (which I recognise some areas don't even have); but a space in which a community can come together, to grow flowers, vegetables etc - and then perhaps even cook them up together! In partiuclar I feel this is a way to break down barriers between age groups and decrease social isolation.

Increasing green spaces is a great idea and an opportunity to meet global targets in the fight against Climate Change. However, it's not just about building greener spaces. Considering where, how and the role of land policy and regulations are highly important. There are many Brownfield sites across London and turning them into green spaces would be highly beneficial. Protecting existing Ancient Woodlands and green spaces is also just as important. Greener spaces create great attractive spaces for individuals and families alike. It adds serenity and beauty to local areas but also takes up the Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Green spaces can be incorporated into local areas as part of eco-regions. Where environmentally friendly residential buildings and corporate offices alike can be built with green spaces at the heart of these areas, which also include renewable technology.

It would also be an opportunity to consider green spaces in coastal locations, where green spaces can include forests and woodlands which not only provide homes to flourishing wildlife, but also act as natural defense mechanisms against flooding and climate catastrophes.