On a clear day, you can see the pollution: the Sussex cattle at Roundshaw Downs after a previous snowy spell. Once the site of Croydon Airport, Roundshaw is now one of several local nature reserves where locals can experience Wild London
NATURE NOTES: The London Wildlife Trust and the Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society have activities available – free of charge – for people to find out more about the wildlife in our city
Peregrines and foxes, hedgehogs and parakeets – David Attenborough’s Wild London, broadcast on New Year’s Day, showed a side of the capital most of us are only rarely able to glimpse.
Wonders of nature: Sir David Attenborough, with a harvest mouse in one of the capital’s green spaces, as shown in this week’s BBC documentary, Wild London
A more personal wildlife documentary than many that the broadcasting giant has narrated over the years, here we saw 99-year-old Sir David handling a peregrine chick in one of the Gothic towers of the Houses of Parliament, or lying across someone’s lawn in the dusk to get a closer view of the resident hedgehog.
And as for the frankly shocking mating rituals of slugs…
“Throughout my life, I’ve had the good fortune to travel the world, witnessing many natural spectacles,” Attenborough said at the start of the programme.
“But this is the place to which I’ve always returned. A sprawling megacity may seem no home for a nature lover like me, but there is a wild side to London.”
Much has changed in London through Attenborough’s lifetime, though his favourite Richmond Park appears almost untouched. But there is a sense that London, already a green city of parks and gardens, commons and open spaces, is slowly getting back to nature.
David Mooney, chief executive of the London Wildlife Trust, who co-produced the programme with the BBC, said, “London is actually nearly 50% green space. It’s a massive metropolis, and wildlife is thriving.”
And the London Wildlife Trust, who manage some of Croydon’s open spaces, is now offering opportunities for those who were inspired by Attenborough’s Wild London to get closer to nature, while one of Croydon’s long-established natural history societies also has some talks coming up in January which might help provide more understanding of the wildlife in our city.
The London Wildlife Trust’s urban wildlife course is run via email – “your chance to uncover the wild side of London from your inbox”, they say.
Those signing up for the course will
- Learn about five incredible and unexpected creatures that call London home
- Find out how wildlife is adapting to city life
- Discover the best places to spot the species
“London isn’t just a city. It’s a living, breathing ecosystem and together with our community of dedicated members, we can help keep it wild,” the London Wildlife Trust says.
Meanwhile, the Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society has three talks coming up, all via Zoom, that will look at various aspects of the natural and urban enviroment.
Wed Jan 14: The secret world of moths
Start 7.45pm
A talk by Peter Smith, who says, “In the 12years I’ve been trapping (and releasing) moths I’ve identified over 400 different species in my Surrey garden.
“Join me to explore this hidden pollinator night shift which comprises an amazingly colourful and diverse group of insects, many of them with fascinating stories and histories”.
Booking is required. To book, email cnhss.info@gmail.com with subject ZOOM MOTHS VISITOR by 3pm on January 14. You will receive the link on or shortly before the day, subject to availability.
Wed Jan 28: Hedgehogs
Start 7.45pm
Little known: find out more about hedgehogs with the CNHSS Zoom talk this month
A talk by Pat Morris.
The hedgehog is one of our most familiar animals, yet surprisingly little was known about its ecology when Morris began his studies nearly 60 years ago.
His talk will focus on finding the answers to the questions people ask most frequently. There will be discussion of the present declining status of the hedgehog and what we can do to help this most endearing animal.
Email cnhss.info@gmail.com with subject ZOOM HEDGEHOGS VISITOR by 3pm on January 28. You will receive the link on or shortly before the day, subject to availability.
Mon Feb 9: The Wandle and its water
Mick Taylor of Wandle Industrial Museum will look at historical aspects of the river and its sources, how water from it has been used and how its course has changed, along with some of the disputes that have taken place over the river’s water.
Email cnhss.info@gmail.com with subject ZOOM WANDLE VISITOR by 3pm on February 9. You will receive the link on or shortly before the day, subject to availability.
It is four years since Inside Croydon conducted its own bit of urban nature watch, with regular guided walks over Roundshaw Downs, once the site of Croydon Airport, now home to skylarks and sparrow hawks, rare small blue butterflies, as well as Sussex cattle and, of course, foxes.
Check out our nature Notes across the year, to see how global warming was having an impact on nature even here on our doorstep in Croydon:
January: Up on the downs, watching for the missing signs of winter
February: Heard before they’re seen, skylarks soar back over Roundshaw
March: Bumps and ‘bunkers’ to provide new homes for the small blue
May: Walk in the Roundshaw woods and revel in splashes of colour
July: Long dry summer has transformed the downs to straw-yellow
August to December: Fire, thunder and ice – real-life drama up on Roundshaw Downs
PAID ADS: To advertise your services or products to our 10,000 weekday visitors to the site, as featured on Google News Showcase, email us inside.croydon@btinternet.com for our unbeatable ad rates
- If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, or want to publicise your residents’ association or business, or if you have a local event to promote, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com
As featured on Google News Showcase
- Our comments section on every report provides all readers with an immediate “right of reply” on all our content. Our comments policy can be read by clicking here
Inside Croydon is a founder member of the Independent Community News Network
What a shame the Croydon council ignores Dollypers hill and bans any conservation work there