Landscape Proposal Reintroduces Heathland Ecology to London Through Grazing and Restoration

Designer Yiling Deng has proposed 'Heath Hiking,' a landscape architecture project that aims to restore heathland ecosystems in London. The initiative focuses on the area between Hampstead Heath and Brent Cross, creating an ecological corridor that integrates human activity with natural systems. Key strategies include using sheep grazing for vegetation management, restoring river corridors, and implementing low-intervention material approaches. The project responds to the historical decline of lowland heathlands, which have lost approximately 80% of their area since 1800. It represents a model for urban rewilding that combines ecological restoration with public accessibility.