Acting and adapting — Hammersmith & Fulham’s climate strategy
Hammersmith & Fulham Council (H&F) are the latest council to issue an investment to help them fund their climate plans. They have an ambitious strategy — developed thanks to an enormous amount of work by residents, officers and councillors, including their resident-led Climate and Ecological Emergency Commission. And they have already made essential steps on their journey, not least having one of the lowest levels of investment in fossil fuels of any UK Council pension fund, and have developed a climate implications toolkit to make sure that all key council decisions and all key decision reports include climate and nature implications.
Their climate action plan has two pillars: they want to reach net zero carbon by 2030, and have already started work to get there, but they also recognise the need to respond to the impact of a changing climate on their urban borough so it works for people and nature.
So what climate projects will your money be supporting if you back the first phase of the £5 million H&F Green Investment?
Continuing a pioneering approach to urban greening
H&F recognises that biodiversity underpins Earth’s processes, necessary for our own survival: from oxygen supplied by plants to ecosystem engineering by local H&F keystone species like the Eurasian Jay, which distribute tree seeds.
The borough offers a fantastic opportunity to showcase what urban conservation can look like in a heavily urbanised area, with less than half the tree canopy cover than the London average. A cornerstone of their approach is the innovative Tiny Forests campaign. Tiny Forests are a native woodland area with the aim of reconnecting people with nature and providing new biodiverse habitats to support local wildlife.
The impacts of climate change such as flooding, heatwaves, toxic air pollution and loss of biodiversity are increasingly affecting urban areas. Luckily, creating thriving and climate-resilient urban areas that support economic growth, while also enhancing livelihoods and wellbeing can go hand-in-hand. Each Tiny Forest features around 600 native trees and shrubs, with species chosen based on each site’s soil and benefits to wildlife.
Hammersmith & Fulham was the first borough in London to plant a Tiny Forest. In March 2021 they partnered with environmental charity Earthwatch Europe, local drinks business Fever-Tree and residents to plant 600 trees and shrubs in Hammersmith Park.
“Each Tiny Forest planted not only helps us meet our carbon net zero goal by 2030, but also ensures cleaner air and safer habitats for local wildlife,” said Cllr Wesley Harcourt, H&F Cabinet Member for Environment.
Watch the first day of tiny forest planting:
The woodland is approximately the size of a tennis court and will grow quickly without chemicals or fertilisers, providing a rich habitat for wildlife. It is hoped that over 500 different animal and plant species will be attracted to the site within its first three years.
Louise Hartley, Tiny Forest Programme Manager at Earthwatch, said: “Tiny Forests provide rich opportunities for connecting local communities with the environment and sustainability, and we are delighted to bring these inspiring spaces to Hammersmith & Fulham and create a Tiny Forest network that can have a real impact on the area.”
“This project is a great example of how a tiny change has the potential to make a huge difference. And I hope this new green space will provide a vital refuge for both people and nature.”
The money raised through H&F Green Investment will help fund the next phase of this work.
Sustainable drainage to adapt to the changing climate
Hammersmith & Fulham Council has introduced several sustainable drainage schemes as part of its plans to mitigate the impacts of a changing climate on their urban borough. These schemes can help better manage rainwater, as well as increase green space into areas dominated by concrete.
Several of H&F’s projects have won prestigious awards. The schemes in Shepherds Bush and Fulham were recognised at the Green Apple Awards for environmental engineering. And the Life+ project to climate proof social housing was awarded the College of Fellows Award for climate change adaptation at the Landscape Institute Awards.
An award-winning, community-focused regeneration project in White City that helps reduce flooding and promotes biodiversity has scooped two more accolades. Bridget Joyce Square, the sustainable urban drainage scheme (SuDS) in Australia Road opened in November 2015. The following year it won the Engineering Project with best Community Impact award at the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) London Civil Engineering Awards 2016.
“These projects bring vital green space to an area otherwise dominated by concrete. Sustainable drainage schemes like this help us reduce localised flooding and also help our ambition of being the most environmentally positive borough in the country,” said Cllr Wesley Harcourt.
H&F Green Investment will help fund new sustainable drainage initiatives across the borough. Keep an eye out for further updates for precise details of the schemes they will be funding.
Creating greener streets
Hammersmith has been leading the way on sustainable travel and greening its streets. It has already launched its first cycle storage hub, which provides safe and secure shelter for 80+ bikes — including cargo bikes — as well as a tool station to take care of quick fixes and flat tyres.
“A lot of people from south of the river are now cycling to Hammersmith for their onward-journey — to get to the tube, or to get onto a bus at the bus station,” said Hammersmith resident Leo Murray.
“This facility is exactly what is needed to make those kinds of trips possible.”
Watch the Hammersmith cycle hub video:
They are also seeking to create more pedestrian friendly streets, such as the new project which involved adapting the pedestrianised section of Stevenage Road beside Rowberry Mead.
Work included the installation of an eco-friendly permeable hard surfacing of the carriageway, that is made up of 25 per cent recycled rubber from old tyres. Raingardens have also been created in between the existing trees to help slow the flow of rainwater into the sewer system, reducing flash floods during downpours.
The raingardens have been filled with of perennial plants which will help to create a green corridor that makes the road look more pleasant and attracts wildlife, as well as helping with the drainage.
The first phase of H&F Green Investment will help fund further cycle hubs and street greening, and other projects will be included in later raises.
H&F Green Investment is open for investment now. You can find out more and invest here.
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