New urban wildflower sowings boost biodiversity along Brent’s roads and on its roundabouts

Barham Park (last year)

Sudbury Court Drive (recently)

Fryent Roundabout (May 2020)

From Brent Council

Newly sown verges and roundabouts are bringing life and colour to Brent's roads this summer, as the borough's biodiversity-boosting Bee Corridor is expanded for 2020.

Last spring, wildflower-rich urban meadows were introduced in 22 of Brent's best-loved parks. Together, they formed a 'bee corridor' - the first of its kind in London - and prompted a rare species of butterfly to return to the capital.

By building on the programme to rewild parks and open spaces, the Council hopes to encourage even more visits from pollinating insects. This year, 13 verges and roundabouts have been transformed into urban oases for bees, butterflies, dragonflies and moths.

Studies have revealed a huge drop in the number of pollinating insects across the UK since the 1980s, prompted in part by the loss of wild habitats. More than 97% of the UK's wildflower meadows have disappeared since World War Two.

Cllr Krupa Sheth, Lead Member for Environment at Brent Council, said:

Many of us have been lucky enough to reconnect with nature during lockdown. Seeing the human impact of this pandemic has brought home just how fragile life is, and that's why it's so important that we protect pollinating insects. They play a crucial role in our food chain. I'm incredibly proud of our commitment to boost biodiversity in Brent, and hope our residents enjoy the new splashes of colour too.

Locations for the new wildflower areas are as follows:

• John Lyon Roundabout
• Sudbury Court Drive
• Kingsbury Roundabout
• Fryent Roundabout 
• Fryent Way 
• Bridgewater Road 
• Sudbury Green Junction with Bridgewater Road
• Sudbury Roundabout
• The Avenue Mayfields Green
• The Avenue Basing Green
• The Mall 
• Queensbury Station green
• Neasden Roundabout