One of the striking things when walking up so many paths for the recent elections was the fantastic gardens in the Wanstead area

There are some really imaginative front gardens, some with raised beds, others with a nice balance of the practical and beautiful.The gardens are a real example of what can be done in a small space, with a bit of ingenuity.

There has been growing concern over recent years of the increasing numbers of front gardens being concreted over. When this tendency is taken in the round it amounts to a huge amount of land.

The London Fire Brigade created a front garden for the Chelsea Flower Show demonstrating what can be done, as well as the flood risk created by concreting over.

This land is being lost to biodiversity and creates an increasing flood risk. However, as mentioned, there are plenty of imaginative offerings going in the other direction.

More street trees are another plus. Some have been replaced when required plus there are other new ones in parts of the borough.

The burgeoning number of tree pits being tended with wild flowers also make a great contribution to the insect population and biodiversity.

Trees and pits make a big difference to the look of a road. Woodcote Road in Wanstead is one that comes to mind if people want to see just what a difference these aspects can make.

The work of the community gardeners and Wild Wanstead contributes tremendously to the biodiversity of the area.

The beds around George Green and Wanstead station are fantastic, particularly those in the middle of the road around Harrier Way.

More always needs to be done of course. It would be good if a joint effort from the council, TFL and the community could help accelerate the greening of the stretch between the Green Man and Redbridge Roundabouts. More trees, shrubs and flowering areas would help counter carbon dioxide and pollution, as well as improving the look of the area.

The new planters and baskets that have so brightened up the high street over recent months need sponsorship from local business and groups if they are to continue.

Edible gardens are becoming more commonplace across the country. The resulting crops can then be distributed to those who need and want it.

We have a very rich, biodiverse area but there is so much more that can be done. Let’s push on with that work.