Situation

Shaftesbury is a listed Real Estate Investment Trust, which invests exclusively in London’s West End. Shaftesbury has been delivering biodiversity enhancements since 2009. Initiatives include installing eight green roofs and six green walls on refurbishment projects, as well as smaller scale measures, such as bird boxes and bee hives.

A key driver was the recognition that even small biodiversity improvements are important, given increasing threats to ecosystems globally. Initiatives that encourage nature to thrive in urban environments can also increase the aesthetic appeal of buildings and enhance the wellbeing of occupiers.

In 2015, Shaftesbury joined Wild West End, a collaboration that brings together some of the West End’s largest property owners: The Crown Estate, Grosvenor Britain & Ireland, The Portman Estate, Howard de Walden and Shaftesbury. The aim of the initiative is to create a network of green infrastructure for both environmental and community benefit. For a case study on The Crown Estate’s participation in Wild West End, click here.

Shaftesbury set an objective to increase the number of biodiversity features across its portfolio in 2016. The company has since set a target to increase the number of features by 10% compared with 2016. 

Carnaby comprises 130 mixed use buildings and represents 35% of the total portfolio by value. The biodiversity focus here is to support pollinating species. Not only are pollinators, such as bees, popular with people, they also provide vital ecosystem services, pollinating food crops and flowers. However, many pollinator populations are in decline across the world. 

Actions

The Pollinator project in Carnaby was coordinated by Shaftesbury head office management team and implemented by the estate team. 

Through the project, 25 sedum pods were installed on service roofs. The 1m2 pods comprise up to 12 species of sedum for optimal year-round performance. A coarse substrate of recycled organic material acts as a growing medium, all contained within a lightweight, 100% recycled plastic tray.

In addition, pollinator friendly species were planted in 635 window boxes, 98 planters and 46 hanging baskets spread over 109 properties across Carnaby. The seasonal planting regime includes:

• Summer: nectar rich flowering plants, such as geranium, fuchsia, lobelia, bacopa and salvia.
• Winter: perennial evergreens, such as ivy, lavender and buxus, with seasonal flowering plants for colour.
• Spring: primulas added to provide a food source for bees early in the season.

To engage with the local community, Shaftesbury promoted Wild West End and the Pollinator project during the 2016 Carnaby Street Eat event. Hundreds of visitors to the food festival found out more about the importance of enhancing habitats for pollinators and picked up free sachets of seeds for pollinator friendly plants. They were also able to sample honey from beehives on roofs in Shaftesbury’s Covent Garden holdings.

The newly planted sedum pods, window boxes, planters and hanging baskets create small areas of habitat, which provide stepping stones to larger green areas nearby. These include a well-established green roof at 26 Carnaby Street, installed by Shaftesbury in 2010. At 22 Ganton Street in Carnaby, where Shaftesbury’s head office is located, there is also an extensive green roof with wildflower areas, bird boxes and insect hotels, as well as a green wall. More here.

Financials

• £513 in total for the sedum pods.
• No additional charge for changes to planting in window boxes, planters and hanging baskets, as these were already budgeted for as part of ongoing management.

Benefits

The project only began this year, so benefits are still emerging. However, through Wild West End, regular surveys and group objectives are proposed to assess biodiversity enhancements, against a baseline survey undertaken in early summer. 

Over time, benefits are expected to include:

• Ecology: Encouraging bees and other pollinators back into London’s West End by increasing food sources, creating green stepping stones and raising community awareness of the importance of habitats for pollinators.
• Wellbeing: Creating new opportunities for residents, visitors and workers to enjoy nature in London’s West End, fulfilling the instinctive bond between humans and other living systems.
• Community engagement: Through events such as Street Eat, enhancing Shaftesbury’s reputation with people living and working around this iconic area of London.
• Staff engagement: Providing regular updates on the Pollinator project to the Shaftesbury head office team, based in Carnaby village.

Find out more

Penny Thomas

Company Secretary

Shaftesbury

E: Penny.Thomas@shaftesbury.co.uk

T: 020 7333 8118

www.shaftesbury.co.uk