A place where wellness and nature flourish
Canada Water is a new blueprint for London. One that puts the wellbeing of people and nature at its centre.
We know that blue and green spaces are vital for our emotional, physical and mental health – as well as supporting the biodiverse wildlife of the area (120 species of bird live in or visit Canada Water).
We also know that meeting and connecting with other humans is crucial for happiness. And, we want to prove that we’re actually doing this via measurable targets.
Here’s how we’re helping to build wellness and boost nature at Canada Water.
A peace of blue and green
At least 35% of Canada Water will be open space for everyone to use and enjoy. This welcoming area is already surrounded by 130 acres of abundant parklands and water including Southwark Park, Greenland Dock and Russia Dock Woodland.
Incredible new or revitalised green spaces are coming to the area too: Canada Dock, Dock Office Gardens, a new 3.5 acre park, and a new town square the size of Leicester Square. All three will be connected by green walking and cycling routes.
Canada Dock
One of the last remaining docks in the historic Surrey Docks area, Canada Dock is an important wetland environment, designated as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation.
Working with London Wildlife Trust, we’ve restored rich wetlands and created seven islands planted with native species winning the Award for Planning for the Natural Environment 2023.
Here’s what we’ve done:
Seven new wetland islands and three habitats for wildlife include reed beds, wet woodland and wet meadow.
A striking 170-metre boardwalk which gently winds across the revitalised dock and wetlands, bringing people closer to nature while wildlife passes freely underneath.
120 trees planted, and a new dipping pond which allows people to explore a pond-dwelling world of insects, amphibians and plants up close.
We’ve designed the wetlands to mimic natural habitats, so this will be a flourishing ecosystem. Hopefully, we’ll see reed bunting, reed warblers, dragonflies, frogs, newts, toads and even kingfishers.
David Mooney, London Wildlife Trust
The park
Designed with Townshend Landscape Architects and local partners, the new park will feature five gardens, including a central lawn, flower gardens and woodland, with biodiverse planting and grass-lined, meandering walkways.
Deep community engagement influenced the new park and we took inspiration from green community spaces created during redevelopment, such as the Paper Garden with Global Generation.
We will also create a 700-metre park walk through future phases, connecting Southwark Park to Russia Dock Woodland, with the new park at the centre.
Connecting people with sports
We are proud to support sports clubs and groups around Canada Water, widening access and championing sporting ambitions, with a focus on equitable opportunities.
This includes youth football teams at Ballers Academy and Fishers FC, boxers of all ages at Roosters Boxing Club and sailing lessons for people with learning disabilities with Bede House.
Connecting people and nature
Our partnership with environmental education charity Global Generation has been growing green skills and social opportunities in Southwark since 2016.
1,350 local people learn and grow with nature in the Paper Garden every year. By providing our partners with space, we support them in amplifying their impact.
We’ve funded over 2,500 places on Global Generation initiatives since 2020, including the Generator youth leadership programme, family fun days and multi-generational urban gardening. This is also inspiring young people into careers in agriculture, landscape design and science.
Connecting people with each other
Social relationships are one of the most powerful drivers of human health and wellbeing.
Love Summer, a fun-packed, summer-long programme of free activities focused on health, wellbeing and social connection, welcomed 8000+ visitors in 2024, primarily local residents. We also support diverse events bringing local people together, such as Bermondsey Carnival and Rotherhithe Festival.
Funding from us and other partners helps Proper Blokes Club to keep their walks free and to grow membership, so more men look after their mental health by walking and talking.
How we measure our progress
Together with ecology experts Greengage, we’ve committed to monitor the impact of our nature plans over an entire decade.
Boosting biodiversity
Early results show that Canada Water is on track to create 28% biodiversity net gain for hedgerows and habitats, once complete. Already way ahead of 10% planning requirements, this could rise to 60% for habitats, as we implement nature plans across future phases.
Growing environmental benefits
Looking at the wider value of nature, Canada Water is on track to create 67% environmental net gain, once complete. This includes the wellbeing and climate resilience benefits of green spaces providing natural cooling, enhancing local air quality and absorbing rainfall and carbon.
