Annual Pollinator Count 2026
On Monday 13th July, PLT held its Annual Pollinator Count: a day dedicated to recording and observing the insects that pollinate our plants, including bees, butterflies, moths, hoverflies and other pollinating insects across the City of London. We were lucky to have beautiful weather for the day, which made it a brilliant opportunity for people […]
Exploring Nature in the Heart of Canary Wharf
On a warm summer evening, Pollinating London Together members gathered for a fascinating guided visit to Canary Wharf, discovering how one of London’s best-known business districts is evolving into a greener, more biodiverse urban environment. The visit was hosted by Olivia Phillips, Head of Sustainability at Canary Wharf Group, who provided an insightful behind-the-scenes look […]
Thamesmead Visit
Exploring the Green Transformation of Thamesmead Our visit plan envisaged a warm summer day, with everyone in shirt sleeves and sunglasses at the ready. During our preparations, we identified the weather as the principal risk, and the forecast certainly supported that assessment. Twenty-four hours before our visit, heavy rain, thunder and lightning were all predicted […]
Hoverflies
Spring is properly underway, and with it comes a surge of insect activity across London’s green spaces. While bees often steal the spotlight, there’s another group quietly doing important work at this time of year: flies. What is a fly? True flies belong to the order Diptera, that literally means “two wings.” Unlike bees, butterflies or […]
A Rare Glimpse of Three Rooftop Habitats in London’s Victoria
PLT recently had a memorable visit to three rooftop gardens above Landsec’s Victoria properties, organised by our Ambassador, Sue Payne, managing director of Q&S (Quality & Service) who are responsible for urban gardening across Landsec’s extensive London Workplace portfolio. Sue started us off with a briefing on Q&S’ organic chemical free gardening practices and how […]
Meet some of the UK’s solitary bees
When people think of bees, they often picture honeybees living in hives. But most bee species in the UK live very different lives. In fact, the vast majority are solitary bees, species in which each female builds and provisions her own nest, rather than living in a colony with workers and a queen. The UK […]
Regent’s Park created as a memorial to Queen Elizabeth II
PLT enjoyed a fascinating visit to a preview of the new garden in Regent’s Park, created as a memorial to the late Queen Elizabeth II. Arranged through The Royal Parks, our group was fortunate to be among the final tours before the garden’s formal opening on 21st April—the late Queen’s birthday. The weather was kind […]
The First Bumblebees of Spring
As March arrived, the first signs of spring begin to appear. The days are getting longer, temperatures are slowly rising, and flowers are starting to open. With them come some of the first pollinators of the year. Among the earliest insects you’re likely to notice in gardens and green spaces are bumblebee queens. These large […]
Creating Pollinator Habitat in Wintertime
February Garden Prep It is easy to look out at your garden in February and see only the miserable side of the season. The sky is often grey, the ground feels waterlogged, and most trees are bare. It can feel like nothing is happening. In reality, Spring is already on its way, and this month […]
Pollinator Surveys
How Healthy Are London’s Pollinators? Pollinators are essential to healthy ecosystems and food production. But how are they actually doing in London? That’s the central question behind Pollinating London Together’s ongoing monitoring work. To answer it, we are asking something quite simple, but surprisingly difficult to pin down: which pollinator species are present in London’s […]