Bankside Gardening Stories: Plants in the cracks – exploring nature’s resilience

Have you walked around Bankside and wondered who was responsible for all the colourful planting popping up? Well meet our Urban Gardener, Dan. This month, he is delving into all those plants in our neighbourhood which are hiding in plain sight.

“While exploring the wonders of Bankside we often turn a blind eye to the magical resilience of the natural world, be it popping out for lunch or catching a brief moment of sunshine between meetings; around every corner there are signs of nature clinging and thriving in the most unlikely of places.

During a maintenance visit, I decided to take a moment to appreciate the under-appreciated; the plants in the cracks. All along the magnificent low line I spotted a diverse range of plants that have self-seeded within the small crevices of the historical viaduct including Buddleia davidii high up on the railway line, often seen as a nuisance it provides much needed nectar for bees and butterflies.

Another tenacious plant found spreading across the Victorian walls is Erigeron karvinskianus, a daisy like perennial that attracts a pollinators such as moths, bees and butterflies, this plant has been planted within a few key sites due to its hardiness. Yellow Corydalis was also spotted flowering along the viaduct, with it’s delicate flowers it provides honey bees with rich nectar from May – October.

Nasturtium is an annual that self seeds anywhere it finds refuge, not only is it a great addition in salads and garnishes, it is loved by cabbage moths who unfortunately devoured our planted ones but against all the odds, within the cracks a new plant has appeared indicating natures ability to bounce back and persevere.

With a little help we can continue to nourish and support the existing natural world by observing, respecting and creating more space for nature.”