Many Camdeners are excited about the prospect of the Camden Highline, expected to attract an estimated 2.5 million tourists a year; a prestigious spectacle that would equal that of New York and Paris.
The eco-worrier in me, however, can't stop wondering if for a fraction of the cost, we should at the same time be putting as much effort into creating a Lowline… a Camden Beeline that would be a wonderful, everyday attraction and connection to nature for Camden residents and businesses… and of course, visiting friendly local wildlife!
Can you imagine Camden orchards growing across all housing estates? Street trees full of sweet chestnuts, almonds and walnuts. A pesticide-free borough, where weeds are selectively encouraged to grow. Patches of wildflowers lining our streets. Hedgerows bursting with jammy berries planted around all public buildings. Strips of public parks turned into allotments.
Camdeners who give up their cars could be permitted to turn their ex-parking space into pretty street parklets. Trees, not driveways. Rain gardens and wildlife ponds...Talking of which, it’s mid March… and the frogs and toads are at it! Loud croaking sounds of desire across the borough are quickly being followed by the emerging mounds of spawn.
But back to the Beeline! Think&Do (thinkanddocamden.org.uk) and the Camden Clean Air Initiative (camdencleanair.org) have created a schools beeline, which more than 40 schools have signed up to.
This beeline is encouraging the growth of green space and biodiversity across our borough by mapping a connected pollinator pathway of trees, plants, and rewilded space. Projects like the Camden Forest (camdenforest2025.wordpress.com), supported by the KOKO foundation, are donating free fruit trees and jammy hedges to schools to help make this happen.
Calling out to all you Camden businesses and foundations, here’s an idea! What if we expanded our Beeline, to create a Business Beeline? What if… all you lovely businesses, no matter how much green space you have, from a window box to an ex-car park, joined in to help grow a Camden Beeline? From cafes serving freshly grown herbs to bigger businesses planting fruiteries; from mushroom farms growing in unused basements to tomato vines growing up plate glass windows, together, let’s turn concrete, paving and glass into a verdant Camden Beeline (camdenbeeline.org.uk).
Would your business like to get involved? C’mon, let’s get buzzing !
As we connect our green spaces, we connect our community.
Debbie Bourne is a Think&Do Activator and author.
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