Biodiversity and local regeneration at Thames Barrier Park
Business: Carillion Facilities Management (CFM) |
Date: 2007 |
Location: Thames Barrier Park | |
Business benefits included demonstrating that CFM have worked in partnership with the community to support the government’s regeneration aims. |
Community Benefits included revitalising a vital area within the community, increasing collaboration with the local community and providing a unique well managed green space in London. | ||
The Thames Barrier Park is a unique park, situated adjacent to the Thames Barrier, in London, and voted the 8th Green Space in Britain. The park provides an essential habitat for numerous species in a largely urban environment. The park is managed by Carillion Facilities Management (CFM) who have worked with their client to ensure an emphasis on increasing the biodiversity amenity value of the site, in addition to providing a well-managed green space for the local community in this urban regeneration area. The management processes applied by CFM at this site have always been sympathetic towards both the environment and the local community. Examples of work the Carillion team, have done include | |||
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Leaving flower heads on plants, after they have gone to seed, thereby providing a food source for birds and small mammals | ||
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Changing over to an organic fertilizer regime, to build up the soil quality and to reduce dependency on non-renewable products | ||
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Erecting bird and bat boxes, throughout the park, to provide shelter for such species | ||
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Reducing the dependency on pesticides, and changing to more environmentally benign pesticides, where their usage cannot be avoided | ||
Two of the most important species that were found on site by the team were Bombus sylvarum (Shrill Carder Bee), and Bombus humilis (Common Carder Bee). Both of these are very rare Bumblebees, with sylvarum being extremely rare. The on-site team made the decision to change the management regime of the wildflower meadow, so as to provide an enhanced food source for these species. Both of the bee species require deep flowers, such as Red Clover, to feed off. A conscious decision was made not to cut the meadow down until after the bumblebees had finished feeding for the year. | |||
