Tower Mustard to Return to the Commons

Wimbledon and Putney Commons have been chosen by Citizen Zoo as one of the few green spaces in London to reintroduce the near threatened native Tower mustard plant later this year.

Volunteer citizen scientists or ‘Tower Mustard Guardians’  will grow this scarce species at home before replanting at carefully selected sites across Greater London, including Wimbledon and Putney Commons – where the species previously grew.

Planting on the Commons will take place in the autumn under the guidance of renowned botanist Dr Mark Spencer. We’ll also be creating a small raised bed within the Wildlife Garden by the Ranger’s Office.

Growing to around one metre tall and producing delicate white flowers, Tower mustard plays an important role in supporting pollinators including native bees, butterflies and rare moths.

This is the third plant species reintroduction undertaken on the Commons in the last few years, following the reintroduction of copse bindweed and most recently Bogbean from Epsom Common last week.