Enhancing City-based Biodiversity through Leicester's Meadow Conservation Approach
Leicester City Council has revolutionized its approach to grassland management, resulting in significant carbon sequestration and biodiversity improvements. The council's Urban Grassland Management Strategy, launched in response to the city's declaration of a climate emergency, has transformed conventional grasslands into biodiverse meadows and pollination habitats.
Key aspects of the strategy include managing approximately 130 hectares (1.3 km²) of urban grassland as diverse habitats supporting pollinator species, drawing down an estimated additional 105 tonnes of carbon annually across 105 parks and green spaces, and holding an estimated 9,054 tonnes of carbon stored in undisturbed grassland soils beneath the city.
The strategy aligns with Leicester’s net-zero carbon emissions target by 2030, supporting climate emergency commitments. It also fosters cross-departmental collaborations to share ecological knowledge and identify strategic grassland sites for biodiversity gains.
Thorough data collection and inclusive multi-channel communication campaigns have been instrumental in engaging the public and stakeholders, bolstering support for these changes. Leicester City Council has produced a short video to communicate the new grassland management scheme.
The strategy's success hinges on combining scientific understanding of urban ecology with pragmatic policy and community engagement to allow natural grassland ecosystems to thrive, providing co-benefits for climate mitigation and urban wellbeing.
Notable initiatives under the strategy include the creation of Bee Roads, Leicester's eight-and-a-half-mile riverside corridor, and the city's highway network, which have been transformed into a network of grass and wildflower habitats that support biodiversity, especially pollinators.
More than 200 citizens have volunteered for Leicester Environmental Volunteers, contributing over 638.5 hours to selective hand-weeding, scything, re-seeding, and surveying the city's wildflower sites. Volunteers are also involved in a citizen science project called 'fit counts', which are simplified insect surveys to monitor the impact of the grassland strategy on pollinator populations.
Victoria Hudson, the Parks & Open Spaces Operational Manager, advises that cities starting a similar grassland strategy should be prepared for complaints in the initial years. She emphasizes the importance of using existing green space more effectively instead of creating additional green space.
By transforming conventional grasslands into biodiverse meadows and pollination habitats, Leicester City Council leverages nature-based solutions to both sequester carbon and improve urban biodiversity sustainably. This innovative approach serves as a model for other cities aiming to address climate change and biodiversity loss.
[1] Leicester City Council (2023). Urban Grassland Management Strategy 2023-2033. Retrieved from www.leicester.gov.uk/grasslandstrategy
[5] European Environmental Agency (2021). Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation. Retrieved from www.eea.europa.eu/publications/nature-based-solutions-for-climate
