£12m Green Roots Fund for green and blue spaces in London

The Mayor of London has launched a new fund, which will invest more than £12 million to make neighbourhoods across the capital greener, healthier and more climate resilient.

The new fund was launched at the start of London Climate Action Week - the largest city-wide climate event in Europe.

The fund will support the creation and improvement of London’s green and blue spaces, such as parks, community gardens, wetlands and rivers, including projects that will restore habitats for nature to thrive and could reintroduce lost species.

It will award grants from £10,000 to £500,000 over the next three years to community groups, boroughs and stakeholders to pay for trees, wildflower meadows, parklets and waterway improvements.

In its seventh year, London Climate Action Week is hosting more than 700 in-person and virtual events (double the number of events from last year) and bringing more than 45,000 people to the capital.

City Hall is taking part in some of the events including a seeds giveaway to encourage Londoners to create habitats and food sources to benefit nature; a week of discussions at Goals House which will feature the Mayor and explore topics including sustainable cities, design and creativity and the impact of businesses on biodiversity and the loss of nature; a Climate Innovation Forum in Central London that will see the Mayor discuss pioneering green initiatives with international leaders across government and business; and the inaugural London Climate Action Week Youth Summit at ZSL, which will bring together over 150 young changemakers to explore how young Londoners can take climate and nature action in the city.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I am delighted to launch my new Green Roots Fund to deliver spaces across our capital that are greener, healthier and more climate resilient.

“I want to encourage all community groups to get involved in helping to transform our neighbourhoods and ensure that all Londoners can benefit from nature.

“I am thrilled to be announcing this new investment during London Climate Action Week as our capital delivers the largest city-wide climate event in Europe.

“The benefits of nature should be for everyone and I am committed to making this a reality for all Londoners, as we continue to build a greener and fairer London for everyone.”

Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, Mete Coban, said: “London Climate Action Week provides a platform to showcase our capital as a global climate leader.

“It is fantastic Sadiq is delivering on his Manifesto pledge this week to launch London’s Green Roots Fund and kickstart a series of over 700 events across our capital over the coming days.

“I urge Londoners to get involved in the many in person and virtual events across the coming days as the Mayor and I work to deliver more natural spaces in our city that are accessible to all.”