Climate change
Green spaces and parks play a critical role in helping address the threats and challenges posed by climate change. Heath Hands’ conservation programmes, delivered in collaboration with our partners, aim to conserve and enhance the natural environment to:
absorb and store carbon dioxide, particulalry in the woodlands, wetlands and grasslands, and their soils, which act as carbon sinks, reducing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
reduce the heat island effect, cooling the city and surrounding streets, especially during heatwaves
reduce flood risk during storm events and extreme weather
improve air quality by filtering the air through our woods and hedgerows
enhance biodiveristy, and providing refuge and connectivity for wildlife
While a lot of Heath Hands’ work helps ensure that Hampstead Heath and the other green spaces we work on play this role, some of our projects have a particular focus on climate change and climate resilience.
Heath Hands’ climate-related projects
Our plant phenology project, started in 2024 in partnership with the LNHS. It collects long-term data on seasonal changes to plants and trees, helping build a scientific picture of the impact of climate change on the Heath’s habitats.
Hedges are incredibly important habitat for climate resilience as they are great flood barriers, as well as helping enhance biodiversity, providing shade, improving air quality and absorbing carbon.
Butterflies are a key indicator speciees and provide vital information on the health of our ecosystems. Our monitoring programmes help keep track of butterfly populations on the green spaces, as well as noting any new species spreading as climate changes.
Climate-related blog posts
