New lawn signs to educate and reduce conflict over naturalized front yards in London

An advisory committee at city hall is offering new signs meant to end turf wars between London homeowners with naturalized yards and those with manicured lawns.

On Monday, the new lawn sign bearing the words “Nature Lives Here” was shown to the Community and Protective Services Committee for the first time.

“We have many of these signs that we're keen to distribute into the community,” said Brendon Samuels, Chair of the Environmental Stewardship and Action Community Advisory Committee.

In 2023, Samuels lobbied to clarify the by-law that permits naturalizing front lawns with native plants and grasses.

The new signs include a link to the city’s climate action webpage and information intended to educate Londoners and reduce potential conflict between neighbours.

“There's a QR code on there, and the information on the city's website is really progressive,” explains Samuels. “It's meant to help people understand what they are expected to do if they're naturalizing their yard, and also if they're thinking about submitting a complaint, here’s what the by-law does and does not apply to.”

Samuels says signs can be requested by emailing [e-mail] or by attending EarthFest 2025 on April 26.