London in the Wild : Exploring Nature in the City

You don’t have to go to the countryside to experience nature; London’s wild spaces and wildlife are much more diverse than we think

London is usually thought of as a place of cars, concrete, lights, noise and pollution, a harsh, unyielding landscape created to accommodate mankind, not wildlife. We rush through the city, focused on our destination, wrapped up in our thoughts, but if you take the time to stop and look you’ll discover that London is teeming with wildlife ready to be discovered and enjoyed. More than 15,000 species of flora, fungi and fauna have been recorded within Greater London. In 2019, for example, there were 139 seal pups born in the Thames, and Croydon  is one of the richest areas for butterflies in the UK.

London in the Wild will encourage you to explore the city – from your garden, local parks and community spaces to London’s eclectic wildlife habitats, including wetlands, woodlands and heaths. You’ll discover the secrets of the German Hairy Snail, the day-to-day life of a London tube mouse and the activities of seahorses living in the Thames. 

The London Wildlife Trust, founded in 1981, is the nature conservation charity for Greater London. It is one of 46 members of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, each of which is a local nature conservation charity for its area. London Wildlife Trust is a driving force for nature conservation across the capital. With dedicated supporters and volunteers, they work tirelessly to protect wildlife across London, encouraging conservational behaviours and positive interaction with nature and wildlife. The contributors to the book will be Matthew Frith, LWT Director of Conservation, and Anna Guerin, LWT Nature Reserves Office, Brilliant Butterflies Project.