ES Views: Wild London: Natural treasures on your doorstep

The variety of London’s wildlife demonstrates that nature can be remarkably resilient when we give it half a chance — 13,000 other species share this city with us.

Some of the richest wildlife habitats occur where we have created them actively. I was privileged to be involved in the opening of Woodberry Wetlands in Stoke Newington in April. Here a reservoir, once devoid of wildlife and people, now supports flourishing wildlife and is enjoyed by thousands of people.

Here people can watch the extraordinary courtship rituals of the great crested grebe, as delightful in their way as those of any bird of paradise. Yet only 100 years ago this bird was nearly extinct in the UK.

There is wildlife in every part of London. There are water voles living in my local Crane Park Island nature reserve in Twickenham and house martins swoop in and out of the cornicing of the embassies in Knightsbridge. Peregrine falcons have nested on Tate Modern and the Houses of Parliament and stag beetles make their homes in Peckham.

We are not separate from these species, we are part of the same natural world, even in London. And contact with nature soothes our souls and connects us to the changing seasons. I would urge everyone to take time to look out for wildlife, enjoy it and lend a hand to those organisations that are protecting it.
Read our new column @WildLondon next week