Pollinating London Together at the Lady Mayor’s Show 2025
This year, Pollinating London Together (PLT) was thrilled to take part in the historic Lord Mayor’s Show—made even more special as it marked the first ever Lady Mayor’s Show. Thousands lined the streets and millions more watched from home, making it a momentous occasion for everyone involved.
A Momentous Day for Urban Nature
For PLT, participating in the Lady Mayor’s Show was far more than a parade appearance. It was an opportunity to demonstrate what PLT stands for and highlight how vital pollinators are to the wellbeing of our urban environment.
From the very start of the procession, we were overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and support from spectators. Children waved, families watched us pass by dressed as flowers and bees, and many heard the musical performances by Yekaterina Lebedeva.
Our Float: A Moving Musical Garden
Our float was designed as a vibrant, larger-than-life celebration of flora, brought to life by the musical talents of Yekaterina Lebedeva, Professor of Piano. She treated the crowds to pieces including Fire Dance by Manuel de Falla and Dance of the Knights by Prokofiev. As the float passed Mansion House, Yekaterina performed Flight of the Bumblebee by Rimsky-Korsakov/Rachmaninov and Chopin’s Polonaise, which was met with great enthusiasm from the balconies—briefly turning the streets of London into a concert hall.
We wanted our float to feel like a magical garden on wheels—and that’s exactly what it became.
At its centre stood a grand piano surrounded by a magnificent floral display. Accompanying the float were PLT staff and volunteers dressed as pollinators and flowers, creating a joyful, colourful spectacle as we travelled through the Square Mile.
Why We Took Part
PLT exists to make London a city where pollinators can thrive, be celebrated, and be better understood. The Lady Mayor’s Show gave us an unparalleled opportunity to share this message loudly and proudly.
Pollinators are under threat from habitat loss, pollution and climate change. Yet the solution is beautifully simple: if we plant, protect and connect green spaces across London and other urban areas, pollinators will return and flourish. Our presence in the parade symbolised this collective effort—businesses, livery companies, community groups and residents all coming together for nature.
We hope our participation helped spread the message about the importance of pollinators and the crucial role they play in urban ecosystems—and showed that anyone, no matter where they live, can support these essential creatures.
A Celebration and a Call to Action
Taking part in the Lady Mayor’s Show was a joyful milestone for Pollinating London Together, but it is only one step in a much bigger journey.
As we look ahead, we will continue working with partners across London to create more habitats, support more community projects, and help more people understand the essential role of pollinators in the city.
