As urban gardens lose a significant amount of green space annually, the fourth stage of the Wild Ways project will encourage London communities to rewild their gardens. It builds on earlier research stages, and further questions how defining ‘urban rewilding’ and establishing the role of more-than-human design can make rewilding work.
The project will also evaluate the impact of design-led tools on residents' rewilding behaviour. In addition, it will support the climate-change resilience of cities and address the green transition goals of improving the design and delivery of green policies and initiatives.
The ‘London Let’s Get Rewild’ digital marketing campaign is the first of three interventions the research team plans to pilot test. It will be followed by interventions targeting engagement of primary schools and a gardening-advice service.
London Let’s Get Rewild is a people-powered campaign encouraging Londoners to rewild their gardens and join Rewild My Street for free ongoing support. Rewild My Street is a design-led toolkit helping everyone bring back birdsong, butterflies and beauty to every corner of the city. The campaign aims to aid understanding of what type of messaging is best for engaging London residents in rewilding their gardens. It has been endorsed by ZSL London Zoo and featured on ITV London news.
You can sign up to help London get rewild here: https://www.rewildmystreet.org/letsgetrewild
