Nature and Ecological Restoration
Biodiversity across Watford
Alongside our Rediscovering the River Colne and Restoring Cassiobury Wetlands projects, a key goal in the Mayor's Council Plan is to improve biodiversity across Watford Town. While Watford has good quality green spaces, it is a very urban borough, with 21% of households without a private garden. We have 23.9m2 of green space per capita, and the average walking distance to a park is 380m. For comparison, only 13% of households in Stevenage and Luton are without a private garden.
Here are some of the ways we’re improving biodiversity and access to nature across Watford:
- In the last two years, Watford Borough Council has given away 23,000 trees to residents across the town to plant in their gardens.
- 43 Watford Borough Council planted over 120 trees last year and is on track this year to plant 50 new street trees, 25 new park trees and hundreds of new spalings at Lea Farm Recreation Ground and Woodside Playing Fields.
- In Cassiobury Park we have set aside space for wildflowers to improve biodiversity. We have planted a variety of species, including Tufted Vetch, which attracts bumblebess, Garlic Mustard, an important food for caterpillar species, and also Sweet Vernal Grass and Crested Dogtails, both of which are a good source of food for the larvae of Brown and Skipper Butterflies.
- We are also working to improve the structural and species diversity of Whippendell Wood to support more wildlife. We are improving access, creating better links with the park and wider landscape and fulfilling our statutory duties in protecting this SSSI at 'favourable condition' status.
- In our local plan we have required, prior to national legislation, a biodiversity net gain of 10% or greater for all new developments, with any offsetting occuring within the Borough or adjoining Boroughs by 2030. We are in the process of implementing this biodiversity net gain policy.
- We are also in the process of renewing our Green Spaces strategy, so that the quality of Watford's green spaces continues to improve for both residents and nature.
- We also operate a number of environmentally friendly practices:
- We continue to expand our no mow practices.
- We don't use pesticides in our peaks and use peat-free compost.
- We operate a responsible outdoor lighting policy as recommended by the International Dark Skies Association.
Tree and Woodland Strategy
Read about our plan to manage over 10,000 trees across Watford.
Wilder Watford
Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust can help you improve nature on your doorstep.
Watford's Green Spaces Strategy
Currently being renewed, read our old Green Spaces Strategy.