Londoners to grow rare flower for bees

Volunteers in London are being enlisted to cultivate the threatened tower mustard, a vital wildflower for bees and butterflies, in an effort to prevent its extinction. The conservation group Citizen Zoo, in partnership with Habitats & Heritage, is leading this initiative. Tower mustard is critically endangered, surviving at only two known sites within the capital and about 30 across England.

The project involves volunteers growing the herb in their homes using seeds sourced from the plant's remaining strongholds. Citizen Zoo aims to replant these cultivated flowers at five locations throughout Greater London, targeting historic areas where the species once thrived. A training session is scheduled for March 14 in Twickenham, followed by planting days in the autumn.

This scheme builds on Citizen Zoo's previous community conservation projects, though it marks their first London-focused plant species initiative. The program is supported by funding from the Mayor of London's Green Roots Fund and Thames Water, highlighting a collaborative effort between conservation organizations, local authorities, and the community to protect a rare London species.