We are creating a wet woodland and new reed bed in the south-east corner of the Park, to reduce flooding and provide a better habitat for birds, plants and wetland wildlife!

The project is part of our charity’s ongoing work to improve the Park and Palace and become a sustainable home for all that we do. It is made possible thanks to £50,000 of funding from the Mayor of London’s Rewild London Fund

Less than 20 years ago the woodland in this area of the Park was quite sparse and there were very few trees along the reservoir boundary.

The woods are now dense and cast in deep shade, and the water is stagnant. We plan to create a healthy, wet woodland in this area by:

• Removing selected trees to let in the light and allow the creation of a new curvy water channel. Trees will be selected for removal if they are diseased or have a likelihood of becoming dangerous in the near future
• Digging out new pools to hold water, creating new aquatic habitat and reducing flows into the sewer system during peak flows

In the main woodland we will reduce winter flooding by:

• Digging out and guiding the channels in the woods to divert the water away from paths
• Repairing the drain under the path to the pond area

Ground and environmental surveys have been carried out, and work onsite will take place in winter 2024, with completion by March 2025. We aim to minimise disruption, though there may be some short-term diversions onto temporary trackway. We do not intend to close the path entirely.

Once this work is completed, we’ll be sourcing more funding to deliver the main element of the scheme which is to restore the existing conservation pond and extend it to create a reedbed. The reedbeds are scarce in London and it will form a valuable new habitat for the Park. We’ll keep you updated with progress!