Voluntários ajudam planta silvestre rara com cultivo doméstico

A torre-mostarda (Turritis glabra) é nativa do Reino Unido, cresce até cerca de um metro e tem flores brancas pequenas.
Voluntários vão cultivar a planta em casa a partir de sementes obtidas nas últimas áreas remanescentes da espécie em Londres.
O projeto visa tornar a cidade mais fértil para a torre-mostarda, com colaboração entre organizações de conservação, autoridades locais e comunidades.
Habitats & Heritage fará uma sessão de treinamento em Twickenham no dia 14 de março, com dias de plantio programados para o outono em cinco locais.
A iniciativa é financiada pelo Green Roots Fund, da Prefeitura de Londres, e pela Thames Water.

Volunteers to help rare wildflower by home growing

Volunteers will cultivate tower mustard, a UK native, at home using seeds from London’s remaining population. The effort, coordinated by Citizen Zoo, aims to reintroduce the plant to five sites across the city’s historic range.

The program is part of a broader rewilding mission in London. Elliot Newton, director of rewilding at Citizen Zoo, emphasizes that collaboration with conservation groups, local authorities and communities is essential for success.

Training and planting phases are planned to move forward with teacher-led sessions and community involvement. A Habitats & Heritage training event in Twickenham on 14 March will prepare volunteers for autumn planting days.

Treinamento e ações futuras

Volunteers will learn home cultivation techniques before joining autumn planting events. New tower mustard specimens are expected to establish at five sites across London, forming a network of rewilded habitats.

The initiative builds on prior Citizen Zoo projects, including community rearing of marsh grasshoppers for release into Norfolk wetlands, marking the charity’s first plant-focused London conservation effort.

Financiamento e objetivos

The program is funded by the Mayor of London’s Green Roots Fund and Thames Water, supporting training, seed sourcing and site establishment as part of urban conservation goals.