Hampstead Heath Hedgerow Heroes

Aim

We want to get our community planting new native hedgerows on Hampstead Heath to increase climate resilience for people and wildlife.

Heath Hands is a community conservation charity that aims to get people active outdoors on environmental projects to benefit nature, and people's health and wellbeing on Hampstead Heath. We work with the City of London Corporation, who manage the Heath as a charity, to conserve and protect it for the enjoyment of all. We’ve a small dedicated team of staff and a team of amazing conservation volunteers (both adults and young people).

We are based at Parliament Hill, Hampstead Heath, and we have surveyed to identify locations for hundreds of metres of new hedgerows to join up existing habitats and hedges for the benefit of wildlife (e.g. hedgehogs) and people (climate resilience).

For more information on our previous connectivity projects here.

Hampstead Heath Hedgerow Heroes will:

• enhance biodiversity: we have lost 50% of our hedgerows since 1950
• provide habitat and connections for our iconic hedgehogs and other wildlife species: hedgerows are highly valuable for nature and can support up to 2000 species
• increase climate resilience by improving habitat connectivity, flood resilience and air quality

The money from Hampstead Heath Hedgerow Heroes will fund:

• the tools and safety equipment needed for volunteers to carry out the project
• the trees (a variety of native UK species), and flowering plants to enhance forage for pollinators and mammals
• the delivery of dozens of volunteer conservation sessions to plant and maintain the hedges. 

As well as our registered volunteers, we will involve hundreds of local schoolchildren and members of the community in the project, and along with our partners at the City of London Corporation, leave a lasting legacy for nature and people.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made