London Wildlife Trust first surveyed the wildlife habitats of London in 1984-5. This city-wide survey helped to establish the framework of over 1500 wildlife sites that influences nature conservation in the capital today, through the protection and management of these sites, as well as providing a baseline for the evolution of current paradigms for green infrastructure. Nevertheless, nature occupies a much greater area of London outside these wildlife sites, and in particular the mosaics of private and communal gardens that cover over 24% of the capital. These complement – and are arguably critical to the viability of - wildlife sites, and are directly influenced by millions of Londoners but subject to far less protection.
Nature is most often experienced by people in the city in their garden. However, the efforts of many organisations over the past 25 years to influence the management of gardens for wildlife is failing to influence declines in many species associated with them (e.g. hedgehog, common frog). The evidence is that collectively across London they’re abrading in biodiversity quality, moving from green to grey. Between 1998-9 and 2006-7 an estimated 3000 hectares and 1 million trees disappeared from London’s gardens, a trend that is probably continuing. In contrast the oft-forgotten landscapes of social housing, are undergoing a slow but steady positive transformation – and yet remain vulnerable to the demands for new housing.
The presentation provides a short background to the issues affecting gardens in London, their critical role in the ecology of the urban landscape, and some examples of influencing their management to benefit nature and people.
