King Edward Memorial Park - The Highway, London, UK - Flora and Fauna Information Signs on Waymarking.com

This information board has been placed by 'Trees for Cities", the organisation that manages the plant life in the park. The board reads:
"Trees for Cities are managing this area in a wildlife friendly way. This is to increase the diversity of the plant and animal life.

The area is a quiet space and is important in providing natural habitats and a food source for insects, birds and small mammals.

The flowers growing in this area are mostly grassland loving species. They were common in fields and meadows throughout the country until quite recently. However, in recent years due to intensive farming methods and loss of large areas of grassland they are becoming rare.

Meadow species such as field scabious, greater knapweed, ragged robin, lady's bedstraw and oxe-eye daisy are dependable hay meadow management methods. The grassland is allowed to grow long and is harvested at the end of the summer. In a farm environment the hay provides essential nourishment to larger animals such as cows and horses throughout the winter months...

... Insects, birds and small mammals all need places to live. The long grass is a natural habitat for lots of different animals such as centipedes and field mice.

Log piles around the edge of the area encourage beetles, woodlice and toads to make homes. Buried buckets of woodchip in the surrounding shrub beds encourage stag beetles. There are also boxes for birds and bats to live in."

"King Edward Memorial Park

Since Trees For Cities entered into partnership with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets to manage this park, our landscaping team have undertaken some major renovation and made some impressive changes. A number of flower borders have been reinstated, there's a wildflower meadow, the pond has undergone renovation and replanting and, of course, a tree planting programme is well established. We are immensely proud to have been awarded our fourth Green Flag and a Silver Guilt in the London in Bloom competition.

Trees for Cities' training programme also operates from King Edward Memorial Park and our team has installed a poly-tunnel, classroom and other learning resources for the use of horticulture and arboriculture trainees. Come and see them for yourself; Ben, Richard, Ed, Kate or Paul are always out and about in the park if you have any questions.

This year we are planning to further enhance our biodiversity within the park by extending and developing a the native border along the eastern boundary of the park. We also hope to add woodland bulbs and perennials, install a loggery and develop planting schemes around the play areas to facilitate natural play. Through this work we will engage local schools and volunteer groups and educate Londoners about the value of green spaces. If you are a local school or community organisation and would like to get involved in this project please email Julia Morton or call us on 020 7820 4427.

The London Borough of Tower Hamlets and Goldman Sachs are kindly supporting this project."

Source Trees for Cities website.