Draught horses prepare London park for wildflowers

Draught horses are being put to work in south-west London as part of a council's bid to "enhance" its grasslands.

The horses are pulling mowers and harrows - heavy frames with teeth or tines that are dragged over land to stir the soil - in Wandsworth Park and King George’s Park to create wildflower meadows.

Wandsworth Council said the traditional method allowed horses’ hooves to create small gaps in the grass, helping wildflower seeds to take root more effectively.

Locals will be able to see the horses in action at King George’s Park on Tuesday from 10:00 BST.

King George’s Park has benefited from the city-wide Rewild London project, which aims to rewild urban spaces and promote the recovery of nature, the council said.

Rewild London is funded by the London Wildlife Trust, in partnership with the mayor of London.

Wandsworth Council's cabinet member for environment, Judi Gasser, said: “The rewilding efforts in King George’s Park have focused on the creation of wildflower meadows and the development of biodiversity-rich woodlands.

"These new habitats will act as crucial corridors for pollinators, such as wild bees and butterflies."

The draught horses, from Richmond-based working horses group Oakwood Clydesdales, took on the same role last year and in 2022, preparing the park for wildflower growth.

Mick Green is from Enable, the not-for-profit organisation responsible for managing Wandsworth’s green spaces on behalf of the council.

He said the organisation was "committed to fostering a deeper connection between local people, and the nature around them".

“The Rewild London scheme as a whole has great potential to improve access to nature across London," he added.

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