More than 1,000 tower mustard plants have been successfully grown and planted by volunteers across London. This marks the first year of a community-led initiative to restore one of the capital's rarest native wildflowers, which supports bees, butterflies, and rare moths.
The tower mustard project, led by Citizen Zoo and Habitats & Heritage, involves a network of land managers, community groups, conservation partners, and volunteers. Seeds for the project were sourced from London's last remaining tower mustard populations in Lesnes Abbey Woods in Bexley and Stain Hill Reservoir in Richmond-upon-Thames.
Volunteers, known as Mighty Mustard volunteers, attended a workshop in March to learn how to sow the tiny seeds and were provided with growing equipment. Plants have now been reestablished at various sites, including Wimbledon Common, Hounslow Heath, Lesnes Abbey Woods, and Barnes Common, in areas where tower mustard was previously known to grow.
Tower mustard, or Turritis glabra, is a native UK herb that has experienced a steep decline due to habitat destruction and changes in land management. It is thought to survive at approximately 30 sites across England and is assessed as near threatened on the Great Britain Red List and endangered in England.
The final planting day is scheduled for Tuesday at Hampton Court Palace's Home Park, where plants raised by the Historic Royal Palaces Gardens Team and volunteers will be used. The project is funded by the Greater London Authority's Green Roots Fund and Thames Water.