It’s often easy to view the city as a concrete jungle, yet less than a mile from Lloyd’s an oasis has come to life – the Moat in Bloom at the Tower of London. In May 2022, 20 million seeds from 29 different species of flowers were planted in the moat of the Tower by Historic Royal Palaces to create a natural landscape and a haven for wildlife and visitors alike.
And the results in 2022 were outstanding, boosting natural habitats, improving the wellbeing of city visitors, residents, and workers alike and engaging students from close to 1500 schools through the Superbloom Schools project.
Some sections of the moat supported at least 22 species and ecological surveys indicated that biodiversity and species richness had significantly increased; in other words, the moat came to life.
The success of the initiative was just the first stage of a long-term ambition to transform the moat into a permanently biodiverse landscape. This summer the moat is in full bloom and Optio is a proud sponsor.
For the next two years Optio will support Historic Royal Palaces as the moat transitions into a sea of wildlife. It’s a cause that is very much in line with our own values. Building a better world for current and future generations is essential and supporting the Moat in Bloom is an exciting part of how we are realising our commitment to the environment and our climate, social, and cultural footprints.
Mental health is also an incredibly important consideration at Optio, and we are always looking for ways to actively promote good health and wellbeing amongst our staff. The feedback the new natural landscape in the moat has received has been wonderful and so encouraging. For instance, the majority of the initiative’s partner schools reported back that their visits had a marked positive impact on their pupils’ mental health.
The Moat in Bloom has created a space for peace and reflection. It has sparked curiosity about the wildlife we can welcome in our cities and encourages us to take time for ourselves during busy days.
As one visitor commented: “it’s given us a new space to breathe” and we are very excited to support and visit the City’s own oasis over the coming years.