Natura Nostra Forest – Making Space for Nature in the South Bank 

Southbank Centre has reimagined a section of hard, built environment as a living pocket forest. Natura Nostra Forest sits on the Queen Elizabeth Hall Terrace, rewilding a prominent part of the South Bank into a space that supports biodiversity, climate resilience and everyday connection with nature.

Planted using the Miyawaki method, the forest brings together hundreds of densely planted, UK-native trees and shrubs in a small area. This approach allows the forest to establish quickly and develop into a self-sustaining ecosystem with minimal long-term maintenance.

In a part of London dominated by concrete, roads and heavy footfall, the project shows how even limited space can be used to support nature recovery. Two years in, it is already providing valuable habitat for insects, birds and pollinators, allowing wildlife to establish and thrive in an otherwise heavily built-up part of the city.

In a 2025 eco-acoustic survey conducted by SUGi, 35 more bird species were identified in the pocket forest than in the control area (another part of the Southbank Centre site without any planting). This demonstrates the tangible, positive effect the forest is having on biodiversity in the South Bank.

The forest is also helping to cool its surroundings, particularly during hot summer months. In an area where hard surfaces absorb and retain heat, Natura Nostra Forest reduces surface and air temperatures, offering relief to people using the Queen Elizabeth Hall Terrace during periods of extreme heat. Over its first 20 years of growth, the forest is expected to capture around 405 kilograms of greenhouse gases each year (equivalent to a person flying three to four round trips to Paris each year), contributing to lower emissions in the local area.

As the forest matures, it plays an important role in improving air quality in this high footfall area. The dense planting helps filter airborne pollutants from nearby roads and other polluting activity.

The forest offers a rare opportunity to experience nature in the heart of central London, demonstrating how local institutions can use their spaces to deliver benefits for the wider community. Through the Natura Nostra Forest, Southbank Centre is embedding sustainability into everyday life and contributing to a fairer, greener South Bank and Waterloo.