Nature

Natural Islington

Islington is home to a tremendous diversity of animals, plants, insects and birds, and this biodiversity is supported by a network of parks and open spaces, gardens, railway land and waterways. This includes many community gardens and allotments as well as the Borough’s three local nature reserves.

This diversity of habitat types presents Islington with an opportunity to conserve, promote and enhance the wildlife that it supports. In turn this natural asset presents many advantages to residents in the borough through increasing well being, reducing levels of air pollution and in helping the borough adapt to climate change.

New Wildlife Blog

Islington has launched a new 'Islington Wildlife' blog to celebrate nature in Islington. A large amount of wildlife lives here and a lot is happening every day in our natural environment as the seasons change. Our blog will keep you up to date with what our birds, pond life and other wildlife are doing as well as our telling you about our trees, plants and the habitats that exist in Islington.

To find out more please visit: www.islington.gov.uk/wildlifeblog

Nature in the Built Environment

Sometimes overlooked, the built environment is perhaps one of Islington’s most important habitats, as it provides the biggest opportunity we have for improving and protecting biodiversity. Many plants and animals depend on this urban ‘jungle’ for their survival such as the common swift, hedgehog and house sparrow. It is private gardens however that collectively make up the largest amount of green space. This patch work of habitats creates the borough’s biggest urban nature reserve supporting a huge diversity of wildlife. The recent Garden Wildlife Survey carried out for the borough recorded over 1,460 wildlife recordings in just 145 gardens. For more information on how the built environment can be used to enhance biodiversity see the Green roofs, walls and biodiversity page.

Islington's parks are the green lungs of Islington that not only provide pleasant open space to look at, but also sanctuaries for us all to enjoy. And by us all, we mean the abundance of wildlife that share these green spaces with us. We are working towards increasing the amount of green space and since 2007; we have increased the amount of publicly accessible green and open space by a further 1.76 hectares.

Our natural environment is already changing with the climate. There are new species moving in and native species are less able to survive. In Islington we are adapting the way we manage our parks, and open spaces to ensure that we are protecting the diverse range of wildlife.

Islington's Wild Side

In addition to improving the all round environment to help wildlife flourish, there are also a range of projects specifically designed to attract and keep Islington’s wildlife.

We have three local nature reserves providing a safe environment for wildlife and much needed secluded green areas where you can all get away from the pressures of living in the capital.

Search our web pages to find out more about Islington’s wildlife, where to visit, what you can do to help and what projects the council have been working on to help conserve wildlife in our borough.