Using open spaces to remove carbon

Our open spaces are known as carbon sinks, which are areas that store carbon dioxide (CO₂) through carbon sequestration.

Carbon sequestration is a natural process that occurs when plants harness energy from sunlight, through photosynthesis, and use it to convert CO₂ into valuable energy-rich plant matter while releasing oxygen into the air. This locks CO₂ into plant material and soil, therefore removing it from the atmosphere.

Land management practices impact carbon sinks. Poor land management practice can result in releasing CO₂ into the atmosphere, whereas good land management practice not only protects current carbon sequestration rates but can also increase it.

The way we manage our open spaces can impact how much CO₂ is removed from the atmosphere and locked into plant materials and soil. Our aim is to protect current carbon sequestration rates and also increase them.

Epping Forest is an example of one of our carbon sinks. The woodland has over one million trees alone, including 50,000 ancient pollards of Beech, Hornbeam and Oak, all contributing to carbon storage. There are also around 500 rare and endangered insect species, making it a valuable home for biodiversity too.

Using our open spaces to naturally remove carbon from the atmosphere offers a number of benefits to local people and communities:

• Air Quality: habitats improve air quality by absorbing greenhouse gases such as nitrogen dioxide and particulates from the atmosphere, resulting in cleaner, fresher air to breathe and improves overall health.
• Biodiversity: habitats that remove carbon support diverse ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, and grasslands. These environments are home to a wide range of plant and animal species, enhancing biodiversity and ecological resilience.
• Wellbeing: access to expertly managed green spaces can improve mental health and wellbeing. Green spaces provide opportunities for outdoor recreation, exercise, relaxation, and volunteering, helping people to reconnect with nature and join part of a growing community.

We are looking at what we can do to improve our land management practices in the following areas:

• Natural flood management: holding water on our sites for longer helps ease water stresses at times of drought for trees and plants.
• Fire protection measures: by changing the way we manage fires; we are trying to minimise the risk of large habitat fires and the destruction they cause.
• Planting and protection: we will look for opportunities to plant trees, scrub and new hedgerows where they are needed, while monitoring factors that pose large-scale threats to our trees.

These measures will help prevent environmental risks destroying habitats that are vital to sequestering carbon.

We are planning to create new habitats such as meadows, wood pastures, small woodlands, reedbeds, and hedgerows across the sites we own and manage. These new habitats will enhance sequestration capacity and promote biodiversity for a variety of species.

We have earmarked the following sites for habitat-creation projects:

Copped Hall and Holly Hedge Field

In 2024, a 180-acre wildflower meadow was sown at Copped Hall, part of the 'buffer lands' north of Epping Forest. This converted arable fields back to a mixture of grassland and wood pasture habitats. This helps with water regulation, erosion control, soil retention, increased biodiversity and land for grazing herds.

Holly Hedge Field, with its notable view of Copped Hall from the other side of the M25, features original 18th and 19th century parkland trees but low-diversity grassland. We will create open wood pasture and plant thick scrub to provide a pollen and nectar resource and a habitat corridor.

Hampstead Heath

Several projects are planned for Hampstead Heath, including reduced amenity mowing and reedbed creation. We have begun converting 17.8-acres into new meadow, including wildflower seeding.

In 2016, an 'island' was created in the Model Boating Pond to protect a group of established trees, providing refuge for bird species like the breeding great crested grebe, snipe, and woodcock. A reedbed will be planted to enhance the island's wildlife value and increase the area's sequestration capacity.

Patmore's Field

In 2021, a 42-acre wildflower meadow was sown at Patmore’s Field in High Beach, part of the ‘buffer lands’ adjacent to Epping Forest. A mixture of 26 native UK-grown wildflower and grass seeds, including carrot, cowslip, and ragged robin, were sown on a previously cultivated but low-quality arable field, transforming it into permanent grassland with improved water storage and soil health.

In 2022, two ponds were dug to provide complementary habitats to support greater wildlife when filled with water.

Queen's Park

Hedgerows will be planted at Queen's Park to thicken the existing hedges and create a new, species-rich environment, providing pollen and nectar, as well as foraging and nesting areas for wildlife. Additionally, 2.4-acres have been identified at Queen’s Park for meadow creation.

West Ham Park

To enhance the habitat at West Ham Park, a 1-acre copse of trees will be planted, and we are exploring ways to diversify planting along the perimeter belt to attract more species and strengthen the hedgerows.

Amenity mowing at Hampstead Heath, Queen's Park and West Ham Park

Mowing amenity grassland areas requires intensive management, with weekly cutting from March to September to maintain a short sward. This can be a significant financial commitment due to high fuel costs for mowing.

To address this, the grasslands will be converted into lowland meadows by reducing regular mowing. This will allow natural regeneration and repopulation of various plant species, providing valuable habitat, improving biodiversity, allowing soil recovery and alleviating flooding.