A growing interest in nature recovery

Waltham Forest’s first annual Wildflower Seed Giveaway will take place next month. Residents and local volunteer groups are once more invited to get involved, all with the aim of creating richer habitats and boosting biodiversity in our borough. 

Wildflowers are a vital part of our ecosystem because they provide food and habitats for a wide variety of insects, including pollinator species, bees, butterflies, hoverflies with nectar and pollen throughout the year. Other wildlife such as birds and small mammals benefit too.

By getting involved in the Wildflower Giveaway, residents, community organisations, schools and volunteer groups will be making a huge contribution to nature recovery in Waltham Forest.

Whether it’s a resident planting some seeds in a small patch of garden or a volunteer group creating a whole wildflower meadow in one of the borough’s green spaces, it all makes a difference.
 

Cllr Clyde Loakes MBE, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate and Air Quality, said: 

I am delighted to announce our first annual Wildflower Seed Giveaway, where residents and local groups can pick up a packet and plant some beautiful flowers in time for spring. It builds on our hugely popular and pioneering annual bulb and tree giveaways, that we have had in place for many years. 

Wildflowers play such an important role in strengthening our natural environment as they create a mosaic of rich habitat which boosts our plant diversity and supports pollinators.

Our soil health also improves with greater wildflower coverage, with diverse root systems increasing nutrients and supporting soil organisms.

It’s about working together and supporting our residents to take local action which helps our ambitious programme of nature recovery across Waltham Forest. 

The Wildflower Seed Giveaway originates from suggestions from our fantastic participants on our Residents Climate Panel that considered nature recovery ideas in the summer.

The Wildflower Seed Giveaway will run from Friday 20 to Sunday 22 March 2026 and to get involved you will need to request a packet of seeds by completing an online booking form.

Once you’ve booked, seed packets can be collected from the following libraries from Friday 20 to Sunday 22 March:

• Walthamstow (Saturday: 9am to 6pm, Sunday: 10am to 4pm)
• Leytonstone (Saturday: 9am to 6pm, Sunday: 10am to 4pm)
• Lea Bridge (Saturday: 9am to 6pm, Sunday: 12am to 4pm)
• Chingford (Saturday: 9am to 6pm, Sunday: 12am to 4pm)
• Hale End (Saturday: 10am to 4pm, Sunday: closed)

Ensuring your seeds bloom into beautiful wildflowers is easy if you follow these simple tips:

• Prepare the ground by clearing away all existing plants and grass, preferably by hand
• Sow wildflower garden seeds in March and April. They favour an open position in full sun
• Dig the soil over and firm it well before raking to create a level seed bed and avoid using fertiliser as this encourages competition from other plants
• Seeds can also be sown in planters, pots, or troughs by filling the container with soil, sprinkling the seeds on top, and then covering them lightly with more soil
• One to two grams of seeds will cover approximately one square metre.