London is not just a concrete jungle, it’s home to millions of wonderful wildlife. Read how to help your local wildlife rescue, for details of smaller rescues.
London in the Wild shows that the city is not just cars, concrete, light, noise and pollution. It’s teeming with over 15,000 species of flora, fungi and fauna – including marsh frogs, hedgehogs, short-eared owls and dragonflies. This book looks at gardens, parks, community spaces, wetlands, woodlands and heaths that all are homes to wildlife. You’ll also even discover the day-to-day life of a London tube mouse! The many species found in England’s capital city include:
- Peregrine falcons (super-speedy flyers)
- Skylarks (beautiful songs)
- Pipistrelle bats (eat 3000 insects each night)
- Tawny mining bee (ginger fur!)
- Badgers (see how to end cattle TB)
- Damsel dragonflies (metallic green)
- Stag beetles (fearsome jaws, but weak bite)
- Camberwell Beauty (a beautiful butterfly)
- Red and fallow deer (Richmond Park)
- Dartford Warbler (originally from Bexley Heath)
Emergency Help for London’s Birds
London greylag goose (Lee Acaster)
London Wildlife Protection is a city-wide charity that is run by volunteers, offering emergency help to all birds for most hours of the day. As well as rescuing and rehabbing injured birds, other volunteers regularly destring pigeson’s feet in various locatiosn (they often get human hair, thread and plastic tied around them, which cuts off bird circulation). This is a good reason to never leave out any string or hair (even if biodegradable) in the garden (nor pet fur as it often contains remnants of shampoo and medication, nor washing machine lint as it can choke and get mouldy). Birds have been making nests for thousands of years, without our help.
