BBC Radio 4's Open Country programme featured an episode entitled "Green Pavements" yesterday, August 6. In the company of journalist Jane Perrone, naturalist Phil Gates and botanist Trevor Dines, embark for a safari on urban flora! Why do the weeds in our pavements deserve our attention? Helen Mark presents a pavement safari in search of … Continue reading “Green Pavements” on BBC Radio 4
News
More Than Weeds…on the other side of the world!
I was delighted to be invited to talk on Radio New Zealand's "Saturday Morning" programme yesterday about More Than Weeds. While the flora of the country may be very different to ours in the UK, the challenges faced by cities - biodiversity loss, climate change, residents lacking access to nature - are the same. Adapting … Continue reading More Than Weeds…on the other side of the world!
“Wilding” our streets – a talk for Lambeth Country Show
As my local country show, Lambeth Country Show, had to go virtual this year, I gave a short talk on "weeds" in our cities, and on how learning to live with wild plants could benefit us in many ways. Watch it here, and please feel free to send me your comments! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvbbniiIrnE&feature=emb_title
“Nature beneath our feet” – a virtual talk on June 16
On June 16, I'll be giving a virtual talk on my favourite topic...of course, that's pavement plants! Hundreds of plant species are thought to be growing on the pavements of London. These plants are often dismissed as “weeds”, yet they form a key part of our urban biodiversity. I will introduce some of the common … Continue reading “Nature beneath our feet” – a virtual talk on June 16
More than Weeds inspiring other initiatives around the world
Since the Guardian article was published, I have received many emails from readers abroad, who've been inspired to go and look for plants in their own cities. Some have taken their chalk sticks and started chalking names too, which is fantastic! In Germany, the hashtags #MehralsUnkraut und #Krautschau (literally "Weed show") are becoming popular: https://twitter.com/BSGGoettingen/status/1257316666129575944 … Continue reading More than Weeds inspiring other initiatives around the world
More than Weeds featured in the Guardian
I am delighted that "More than Weeds" has been featured in an article in the Guardian, as part of the "Wild Cities" week: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/01/not-just-weeds-how-rebel-botanists-are-using-graffiti-to-name-forgotten-flora-aoe If you've landed on my website from the Guardian article, feel free to follow me on Twitter and Instagram for "weed" pictures, advice, science and help with identification!
Our rich and diverse urban flora: an exciting study from Paris
Results of an exciting new study, focusing on the flora of the Paris area have been published. The aim of the study was to better understand the "filters" that allow some species to establish successfully in our cities (while other plant species may fail to establish). These filters can be environmental (cities pose challenges such … Continue reading Our rich and diverse urban flora: an exciting study from Paris
Changing times…a guidance on “weed” management
Last week, I was invited to the launch of Parks for London Integrated Weed Management guidance in Brixton, South London. Parks for London is an independent charity that aims to help the managers of London parks and green spaces to share knowledge, and manage resources in the best way possible. The launch was a great … Continue reading Changing times…a guidance on “weed” management
Wildflower hour special on Pavement Plants
In August 2015, the Wildflowerhour initiative was started on Twitter, with the aim of allowing people to share pictures of flowering wild plants growing in the UK. Every Sunday between 8 and 9pm, Twitter users and invited to post pictures of plants they have seen growing during the week, using the #wildflowerhour hashtag. People can … Continue reading Wildflower hour special on Pavement Plants
How “green” is your town?
I have decided to create a map of "weed-friendly" initiatives that are being started by councils around the UK. These initiatives range from a reduction or even a ban on spraying of glyphosate, to the use of weeding alternatives such as hot foam, or even a reduction in weeding altogether. To see the map, please … Continue reading How “green” is your town?
